Fire Destroys 53 Acres of Sugar‑Cane Crop in Brahmni Village, Rahuri Taluka, Ahilyanagar District A major fire broke out on Monday afternoon in the sugar‑cane fields of Brahmni village in Rahuri taluka of Ahilyanagar district, completely destroying crop spread over approximately 53 acres. The blaze started around 1:30 pm and was reportedly caused by friction between overhead electricity cables that passed through the sugar‑cane fields. Revenue officials from Rahuri taluka cited this as the likely trigger. Firefighters from Rahuri responded quickly, and it took more than two hours to bring the flames under control. A single fire tender made four trips to the site to assist in extinguishing the fire. The destroyed crop belonged to 22 farmers, with their adjoining lands forming the affected acreage. Initial estimates place the loss at roughly ₹83 lakh. This incident adds to the distress for farmers in the region, which has already suffered heavily due to seasonal rains. In Ahilyanagar district alone, rain has damaged crops over about 5.62 lakh hectares. Key details
- Location: Brahmni village, Rahuri taluka, Ahilyanagar district
- Crop affected: Sugar‑cane
- Area destroyed: ~53 acres
- Number of farmers impacted: 22
- Estimated loss: ₹83 lakh (preliminary)
- Cause: Friction between overhead electricity wires
- Firefighting details: ~2+ hours to control; one fire tender made multiple trips
Implications & concerns
- The loss is significant for the involved farmers, and recovery will likely require support or compensation.
- The fact that overhead electricity wires were implicated points to infrastructure risk in agricultural areas; managing such installations is essential to prevent recurrence.
- Given that the region is already grappling with damage from heavy rains, this fire adds to the cumulative burden on farmers and the local agricultural economy.
Next steps & likely follow‑up
- A detailed damage assessment will likely be carried out to determine exact losses and eligibility for relief or subsidy.
- Local authorities may investigate the wiring or electrical infrastructure passing over crop lands to avoid such incidents in future.
- Farmers may seek compensation under relevant government relief schemes for natural or accidental crop loss.
- Preventive measures including clearing dry residue, ensuring safe distances from live wires, and building awareness may be reinforced in the region.
