Unseasonal Rains Turn Deadly in Telangana, Four Farmers Die in Mancherial

A sudden spell of unseasonal rains accompanied by strong gusty winds turned deadly in Telangana’s Mancherial district , exposing the vulnerability of farmers forced to depend on fragile shelters amid procurement delays. The incident, which occurred late Tuesday night in Luxettipet mandal , claimed the lives of four farmers and left three others injured, drawing attention to both extreme weather risks and gaps in rural infrastructure.

According to officials, the tragedy unfolded in two villages Kothur and Gampalpalli where farmers had taken shelter to protect themselves and their harvested crops from heavy rain. In Kothur, two farmers were resting inside a tin shed when powerful winds caused it to collapse suddenly, killing them on the spot. In a similar incident in Gampalpalli, two more farmers lost their lives after an old, weakened structure they had sought refuge in caved in under the impact of the storm. The injured were immediately shifted to a hospital in Karimnagar , where they are currently undergoing treatment. Preliminary findings indicate that structural instability combined with intense weather conditions led to the collapses.

The incident has also highlighted systemic issues beyond the immediate weather impact. Farmers in the region had reportedly been waiting for days at procurement centres, struggling with delays in paddy procurement and a lack of proper storage facilities. With no secure arrangements available, many were forced to remain overnight in temporary sheds to guard their produce, leaving them exposed to sudden climatic changes. The storm further caused crop losses , with paddy stocks getting soaked and local infrastructure, including power lines, affected in parts of the district.

The tragedy has triggered sharp political reactions. K. T. Rama Rao expressed shock over the deaths, demanding ₹25 lakh compensation for each victim’s family and alleging negligence in procurement operations. Meanwhile, N. Ramchander Rao criticised the state government, questioning the delays despite support from the Centre and calling for immediate relief measures.

As climate variability intensifies, the Mancherial incident underscores the urgent need for robust storage infrastructure , faster procurement systems, and improved safety measures to prevent such avoidable tragedies in the future.