Paradip: Standing ready-to-harvest crops have undergone extensive damage as tidal waves made its way into more than 2,000 hectares of paddy field in seaside villages of Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts.

Tidal waves smashed several coastal pockets in these two districts in the past 24 hours, inundating huge paddy fields. Officials are assessing the crop damage.

Tidal waves accompanied by strong winds lashed the seaside crop areas in Goda, Padamapur, Ambiki, Ramatara, Adhari, Japa, Nuagaon, Dhinkia, Baleipur and Damadeipur villages in Erasama block of Jagatsinghpur district.

There have also been reports of inundation of crop fields in Bagapatia, Tantiapala, Talachua, Balarampur, Ghadiamala, Balarampur, Dangmal, Khamarasahi, Jamboo, Kharinasi, Badatubi, Sanatubi, Batighar, Ameipala and Jadupur villages in Kendrapara district.

However, the tidal water had failed to make its way into areas of human habitation, though minor breaches have occurred in saline embankments in some areas resulting in waterlogging.

"The standing crops were not ripe enough for harvest. So, we left the crops to fend with nature. Tidal ingress has submerged the crop areas. The standing paddy plants are lying badly damaged," said Radhakant Mantal, a tenant farmer from Japa village in Jagatsinghpur district.

"We have received grievances of ingress of tidal waters into crop fields. Some areas have been inundated due to heavy rain coupled with saline water ingress. The administration had apprised the farmers of the heavy rain forecast. They have been advised to cut the ready-to-harvest crops. Agriculture department and block-level officials have been directed to assess the alleged crop loss and submit a report at the earliest. Farmers, who had to bear the brunt of crop loss due to saline inundation, will be compensated following government rules," said Jagatsinghpur collector Yamini Sadangi.

Kendrapara collector Reghu G. echoed Sadangi. "The loss caused to the crop field due to incursion of tidal waves is being assessed," he said.

Revenue and disaster management minister Maheswar Mohanty said the district collectors had been asked to report on the crop loss due to the unseasonal rainfall.