Such incidents are occurring alongside other factors such as loose and hanging wires, heavy load on transformers and burning of crop residue: Officials and farmers
ADILABAD: Short circuits linked to birds perching on power lines have led to fire incidents in agricultural fields in parts of Adilabad and Nirmal districts, resulting in damage to standing crops, including maize and jowar.
Officials and farmers said such incidents are occurring alongside other factors such as loose and hanging wires, heavy load on transformers and burning of crop residue. During strong winds, loose wires were reported to come into contact, causing sparks.
Incidents of crop loss have been reported at multiple locations in recent weeks. Farmers said birds feeding on maize and jowar crops, as well as stored produce in fields, often perch on electricity wires. They said when flocks take off simultaneously, the movement can cause wires to swing and touch, leading to short circuits.
Farmers including Goskula Srinivas, Goskula Tirumala, Eligeti Anilkumar, Koppula Jyoti and Odnala Uma reported crop loss over about 10 acres in Pembi mandal on April 24.
Goskula Srinivas said he lost maize crop over 1.25 acres valued at Rs 1.8 lakh in the incident. He attributed the fire to short circuits caused by birds sitting on loose wires and taking flight simultaneously.
He said sparks from the wires fell on dry maize crop, leading to the spread of fire to adjacent fields.
Farmers said birds such as pigeons, sparrows, parakeets and crows frequently feed on maize and jowar crops, and measures such as scarecrows and noise-making are used to deter them.
