Sudden rain and strong winds in many parts of Theni and Palani in Dindigul district on Thursday night destroyed standing crops of plantain and paddy, which were ready for harvest in a few days.

Shocked over the loss, farmers Kasi, Thangavel, Rajaram and Peria Irulan of Anaikaraipatti and Asaripatti in Theni district said that they had raised plantain (sevvazhai variety). “We were waiting for harvest after cultivating it for almost 11 months. All of a sudden, over 3,500 plantains have fallen. All our efforts and money has gone waste,” they said.