© Javier CandeiraMaharashtra has been the worst hit so far.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, informed the parliament today that
hailstorms and unseasonal rains have caused huge damage, especially to northern states in India. Hailstorms and unseasonal rain caused damage to 4.76 lakh hectares of crop in February in Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Karnataka.
While responding to an unstarred question regarding damage to crops due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms, he said Maharashtra has been the worst hit so far, with the state having the highest share of crop areas affected. Maharashtra is followed by Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (see Table). Around 300,000 hectares of
crops like jowar, gram, wheat and horticulture crops like orange, grapes, bananas, and vegetables were damaged.
Comment: Recommended watching: Sinkholes: The groundbreaking truth