There was already a forecast that Cyclone 'Mantha' would not have a direct impact on Bengal. But at the same time, meteorologists had also informed that Bengal would be flooded with rain. 'Mantha' made landfall on the Andhra coast around 12:30 AM on Tuesday. However, rain had already started in South Bengal before that.
Rain started in Bankura from Tuesday evening onwards. This incident has increased the worries of farmers. Fields have been flooded with rain. As a result, the ripe paddy fields are all wet now. In some places, water is flowing over the fields. Consequently, they fear that the ripe crops may be destroyed in the fields themselves.
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Many farmers report that they had taken loans from various sources to cultivate during the Aman paddy season. They had planned to repay those loans by selling the paddy. Now with the rains, the fear of crop damage has increased. They are apprehensive of massive losses now. In such a situation, the worry of repayment of the loans is also troubling them.
Farmers were preparing to harvest crops as soon as the monsoon ended. But with the disaster occurring before that, the crops in the fields are lying there. In this situation, farmers in Bankura have demanded compensation from the local administration.
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According to weather department sources, scattered rains will continue in Bankura until Thursday. According to updates received till 8 AM on Tuesday, Bankura received 22 millimetres of rainfall in 24 hours. There is a possibility of scattered rains with thunderstorms in Bankura tomorrow as well. As a result, farmers fear that more crops may get damaged.
