Hailstorm Wreaks Havoc in district for 2nd consecutive day

All Eyes on Administrative Survey

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Unseasonal rain accompanied by storms and hailstorms for two consecutive days, Wednesday and Thursday, devastated the rabi season crops across the district.

The tehsils like Phulambri, Kannad, Sillod, Soyegaon, Gangapur, and Khuldabad were the worst affected, with wheat, maize, gram, and onion crops, ready for harvest, destroyed. Strong winds flattened standing crops across hundreds of acres, washing away farmers' year-long toil.

Two continuous hours of hailstorm caused 100% damage to onion crops in the Jarandi, Nimbayati, and Dhingapur areas in Soyegaon tehsil.

Orchards and vegetable crops in Undangaon and Chincholi Limbaji also suffered extensive damage. Power infrastructure collapsed in the Lasur Station and Bazar Sawangi areas, leaving residents in darkness for hours.

Having already lost the kharif season, farmers now face the rabi season slipping away too, pushing them into severe financial distress. "The very crop we were waiting for the harvester to collect has been flattened before our eyes," is the anguished sentiment being expressed by farmers across the region.

There is a growing demand from across the district that the administration take serious cognisance of this catastrophic loss, conduct prompt and objective surveys, and provide substantial compensation to the affected farmers.