Thunderstorm wreaks havoc in Pollachi

A summer thunderstorm devastated parts of Pollachi and surrounding areas on Friday night

POLLACHI: A summer thunderstorm devastated parts of Pollachi and surrounding areas on Friday night, damaging houses and crops and throwing normal life out of gear. The countryside presented a devastating sight with broken coconut trees and flattened plantain trees. Farmers were crestfallen with their hard labour of months destroyed in 10 minutes, when powerful wind accompanied by rain swept the land.

The loss is estimated to be more than Rs 2 crore. Thousands of coconut trees standing in 200 acre of land were damaged and 50,000 plantain trees flattened. Electric poles have been uprooted plunging nearly 10 villages in darkness. Villages including C Gopalapuram, Aradhanairpalayam, Palakkarai, Keerapalayam and R Ponnapuram near Pollachi were affected by the storm.

For S Jayaprakash, a farmer from C Gopalapuram, the loss was a twin blow. An hour after the strong winds that accompanied the thundershower destroyed his crops, his mother died. "Will I take care of the damaged crops or make funeral arrangements? My mother was ill for a long time and she was 92. So I guess it is ok. But I am unable to cope. We do not know whom to turn to at this moment of crisis and personal loss," said Jayaprakash. Read More!!!

Posted in: Pollachi News,Tamil Nadu News