Rajoji (Mahbubnagar):  The hands that once worked magic on the looms held out an empty prayer.  With disillusionment and loneliness writ large on their faces, the handloom weavers of flood-ravaged Rajoli town in Mahbubnagar district are struggling to come to terms with the massive devastation. Rajoli in Vaddepally mandal on Monday looked like a hell after two days of devastating floods.  The vibrant wools, threads, colors and dyes have been washed away.  “The floods have not only destroyed our future but have made out lives a living hell,” Naram Gattaiah, a weavers’ sangham leader, told TOI.

Known for its colourful zari sarees and bright silks, Rajoli is home to 250 families who depend solely on weaving.  For 52 year old Gattaiah, the life has turned upside down. “The violent floods swallowed our weaving sheds, looms and units in minutes,” he said, sobbing inconsolably. The town on the borders of Kurnool-Mahbubnagar districts is surrounded by the Sunkesula barrage on one side and several streams on the other.

In fact, it was four days of rain and flood fury for the 16,000 people (a majority of them are weavers and fishermen) of this small town, which supplies silk sarees to the fabled Gadwal town, 40 km away.The weavers are taken on hire to make colourful silk sarees by the Gadwal traders.  But the gushing waters gobbled up threads, looms, dyes, colours, casts, oils.  “We do not know any work other than weaving.  How do you expect us to make both ends meet?,”  Burkani Peddanagireddy bewailed.  The destroyed looms floating in the waters close to his house broke his heart.

He said 20 years ago they faced a similar flood but “the havoc wreaked this time is unimaginable.” “ I wish we all died in the rampaging floods.  What do we do when our looms have been swept away or destroyed,” he cried.  On Friday and Saturday, the surging waters rose up to a height of 35 ft, ransacking the town.Vaddi Hanumanthu.  Chenetha Karmikula Society leader, said they bring the raw material from Gadwal and weave here.“People here are so talented that they can weave a 5.5 meter saree in such a way that it can be folded into a matchbox.  But now, all that’s gone.  There is no hope in our lives,” he said, fighting back his tears.Gadwal sarees are very popular since 1930s.  Cotton sarees woven with silk border and silk pallow are a range.  Apart from cotton, zari and silk sarees are very popular all over the country.

Along with Rajoli and Gadwal, Narayanpet and Kothapet are also famous for their handloom sarees.