Rainfall across several parts of Rayalaseema over the past two days has eased months of dry weather, but farmers in Andhra Pradesh’s drought-prone region said the showers arrived too late to save crops that had already withered. The rain also caused waterlogging in low-lying residential areas of Nandyal and inundated parts of Adoni in Kurnool district.
In YSR Kadapa district, Proddatur, Mydukur, Kamalapuram, Chennur and Rayachoti received around 30 mm of rain, according to the report. Kurnool district recorded heavy showers in Adoni and Kodumur, while Panayam and Dhone mandals received light rainfall.
Nandyal town witnessed heavy rain for nearly two hours, leaving several residential colonies waterlogged and inconveniencing residents in low-lying areas. The localised flooding highlights how short-duration heavy showers can create disruption even when the wider region continues to face rainfall stress.
For farmers, however, the rainfall has offered limited agricultural recovery. C. Mallikarjuna Reddy, a farmer from Panayam mandal, said the rain could not revive crops that had already dried up. He added that the showers might still benefit farmers who had raised paddy using borewell irrigation.
Farmers in Kadapa said the rainfall could improve fodder availability and provide some relief for livestock, but was unlikely to support fresh cultivation. “The damage has already been done and there is little scope for taking up new cultivation with these rains. At best, the showers may help improve fodder availability,” M. Jayaraju, a farmer from Khajipet mandal, said.
The contrasting effects of the rainfall — relief for livestock and irrigated fields, but limited recovery for damaged crops and fresh waterlogging in settlements — reflect the uneven impact of delayed and concentrated showers. Rainfall after a prolonged dry spell does not automatically restore lost crops, while intense spells can place pressure on drainage systems in towns and residential colonies.
Weather officials at the Rekulakunta meteorological centre in Anantapur district said several parts of Rayalaseema were likely to receive rain over the next 36 hours. Farmers said they were hoping for continued rainfall, although the current showers were not expected to substantially alter the region’s agricultural situation.
