Rain claims three lives in Anantapur dt.

By Our Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR, SEPT. 23. Three children were killed and four persons injured in separate incidents of wall-collapse, brought about by rain, last night. Over 250 houses have been damaged as rain continued to lash the district. The toll in the recent spell of rain has gone up to five.

According to reports, two girls - Anjinamma (6) and Shakuntala (4) - died in Marempally Colony in Kalyanadurg last night when the wall of a neighbouring house collapsed on the house in which they were sleeping. Fearing collapse of their thatched house, the girls' family had been sleeping in the neighbours' houses for the last two days. While the two girls were sleeping in one neighbour's house, their parents were sleeping in another neighbour's place.

In another incident, Vannuruswamy (11) died in a wall collapse in Paltur village of Vidapanakal mandal last night. The boy died on the spot when a wall of their house collapsed; four other members of his family were injured.

In all, more than 250 houses have been damaged fully or partially in Rapthadu, Madakasira, Vidapanakal, Kalyanadurg and a few more mandals. Of the 305 minor irrigation tanks in the district, considerable quantity of water has been impounded in about 100 of them besides in scores of ponds desilted as part of the Neeru- Meeru programme during the last two years. Irrigation tanks in Brahmasamudram and Atmakur were breached.

The second half of September is proving to be the best phase of the kharif agriculture season in the district this year as more than two-thirds of 63 mandals have recorded 12 to 15 c.m. of rainfall since September 15. Apart from rejuvenating the withering crops, the rain has filled several irrigation tanks and ponds.

Rapthadu, Atmakur, Uravakonda, Kanekal, Brahmasamudram, Settur, Yellanur and Madakasira mandals have so far recorded more than 200 m.m. of rainfall this month as against a normal rainfall of 118 m.m. during this month. About 50 mandals, including the eight above, have received more than the normal rainfall. Chennekothapalli and N. P. kunta mandal received less than 50 m.m. of rainfall.

The rain has eased the drinking water scarcity for the time being besides solving the fodder and water problem for the cattle. The rain is a good news for farmers of groundnut, the main crop in the district. According to agriculture officials, the rain is very useful for all standing crops.

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