Somili Flour Mill

The mill is located at house number 22-78 in Kodipunjula Thanda, out in the Gudur area of Warangal. If you come by during the day, you will hear the loud humming of the machines long before you actually see the door. There is always a fine layer of white dust over everything, from the floor to the rafters, because that is just what happens when you are grinding grain all day long. People from all over the Thanda bring their heavy sacks of wheat or chillies on their cycles or just carry them on their shoulders. We spend our hours pouring grain into the hoppers and watching the flour come out the other side into the bags. It is hot work and the machines make a lot of heat, but it is steady. We have to stop every now and then to clean the stones or adjust the belts so the grind stays right. It is a simple business. We do not have fancy signs or a big office. It is just the machines and the space to store the sacks. Sometimes when the electricity goes out, everything goes dead quiet and we just sit outside on the bench and wait for the power to come back on. It is an honest way to spend the day, making sure the local families have their flour ready for their daily meals.