Paddy crop in 71K ha damaged in Odisha.
Farmers of coastal areas in the district are a worried lot after the cyclonic storm destroyed their standing paddy crop. Kharif paddy was cultivated in over 1.24 lakh hectare in the district. A preliminary report of the district administration states that 71,000 ha of standing paddy crop was damaged due to heavy rainfall and gusty winds. Of the nine blocks where standing paddy crops were affected, Rajnagar, Rajkanika and parts of Pattamundai blocks were the worst-hit, said Kendrapara sub-collector Jyotishankar Mohapatra. A prelim report of district agriculture department estimates the paddy crop loss in over 39,092 ha to the extent of 33%.