“Hailstorm and unseasonal rain in the last eight days have severely damaged standing crops like wheat, jowar, sunflower, pulses and vegetables in several parts of the state, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada. This is not a normal natural calamity. Hence, the Centre and the state government should declare a special package for the affected farmers”, said Munde.
According to media reports, about 8 lakh hectares of crop have been hit in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra alone by hailstorms. In Madhya Pradesh, loss due to unseasonal rain has forced farmers to take their lives in Damoh district. So far, six farmers have attempted to end their life in the district after the loss, a report published in IBN Live said. The report also states that till now, crops worth 13,000 crore have been destroyed in Madhya Pradesh due to the weather.
Meanwhile, 12 people have been killed and crops spread over one lakh hectares damaged in Andhra Pradesh. Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Karnataka have also seen considerable crop damage.
According to the latest weather update by Skymet Meteorology Division in India, chances of rain and hailstorms are decreasing but it can still take place in Maharashtra especially over Vidarbha, Marathwada and madhya Maharashtra
Rain is expected to reduce in these areas once the anti-cyclonic circulation over parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh moves westward to be over Maharashtra after the next two days. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh would witness better weather conditions as the confluence of winds that they were being witnessing for the past two days will weaken due to the shift in anti-cyclonic circulation.
Photograph by Akshay.parmatmunni1987