December rain kills 150 sheep; grape, paddy crops likely to be hit

December rain is likely to have affected the grape and paddy crops in Western Maharashtra. At least 150 sheep died in the Purandar taluka of Pune district due to the heavy rain on Wednesday

PUNE December rain is likely to have affected the grape and paddy crops in Western Maharashtra. At least 150 sheep died in the Purandar taluka of Pune district due to the heavy rain on Wednesday.

A vineyard in Nashik submerged due to the heavy rain on Wednesday, affecting the grape crop. December rain is likely to have affected the grape and paddy crops in Western Maharashtra. At least 150 sheep died in the Purandar taluka of Pune district due to the heavy rain on Wednesday. (RAVINDRA RAJPUT/HT)

Prashant Utage , animal husbandry officer said, “There are reports that 152 sheep passed away. The panchanama is on and chances are this number may increase. This happened mainly in Vanpuri, Supe, Walhe Tekwadi, Parinche and other villages in Purandar taluka.”

Grape farmer Vilas Gangude from Nashik district said, “I planned for an early crop. I planned to start sending grapes to the market three-four days ago, but the rains damaged the rest of my crop. It is tough to say what the losses will be as the meteorology department has forecast rain for few more days.”

Rajendra Pawar, president of the Maharashtra Draksh Bagayatdar Sangh, said, “Only the vineyards where cutting happened early are likely to get damaged, but it is tough to say what the exact position will be right now.”

Sadashiv Nangade, a paddy farmer from Bhor taluka in Pune district said, “We cut the paddy and kept it in the open to dry. Due to the rain, there are chances that the rice would turn black and this would affect the market value.”