Unseasonal rain, hailstorm damage crops in Rajasthan, India

Hindustan Times
Mon, 05 Mar 2018 13:09 UTC

Farmers with damaged mustard crop at a village near Bhiwadi.

Looking into apprehensions that unseasonal rain and hailstorm on Sunday may have damaged standing crop in some villages of Sikar and Alwar districts, the district authorities have been called for a report.

Mild showers also occurred in parts of Jaipur, Bikaner, Churu, Bharatpur and Sriganganagar. The weather took a sudden turn in the afternoon.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje expressed concern over reports of crop damage in parts of the state including Alwar and Sikar districts due to hailstorm and instructed the officials to conduct a survey at the earliest, an official release stated. Officials of the disaster management department and the district collectors have been asked to submit a report on the extent of crop damage.

Deputy director of agriculture in Alwar, PC Meena said that a detailed report has been called from the district. Mustard crop is susceptible to damage at this time of the year.

Meanwhile, four people were injured in a lightning incident in Shahpura area near Jaipur. The victims, identified as Jairam Prajapat (48), Ramjilal (52), Lali devi (30), and Khamoshi (28), were working in a field when the mishap occurred.

According to the meteorological department, the rains and hailstorm were triggered by western disturbances. At this time of the year, rabi crops of wheat, barley, cumin, gram and mustard are susceptible to hailstorm and high-speed winds.

Comment: Elsewhere in India hailstorms have destroyed crops in the state of Uttar Pradesh as well as killing birds:

Hundreds of acres of crops were damaged on Sunday after hailstorm hit some 36 villages in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district.

Tehsil teams have been sent to ascertain the loss and the report will be out today, officials said. "No casualty has been reported," additional district magistrate Ravindra Kumar said.

Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Shyam Sundar Sharma said hundred per cent loss was reported in Raypur, Manakpuri, Musumna, Khuslagarhi, Tilkagarhi, Khanpur, Managarhi, Bhagwangadhi and adjoining villages, where wheat and mustard crops were damaged.

Rameshwar, block pramukh of Nandgaon, said 15 villages in his region suffered damages due to the hailstorm.

Sub-divisional magistrate Chatta Rajendra Pensiya assured that teams have been sent to affected villages to ascertain the loss as well provide adequate help to those in distress. He said some birds were killed in the hailstorm.