Unseasonal rain and hailstorm damage crops across 3 states

According to Bihar government officials, rain and hailstorm in parts of south and north Bihar adjacent to Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday damaged flowering and fruiting oilseed, pulses, vegetables, tobacco crop, and blossoming mango orchards.

Updated on: Feb 27, 2020, 04:55:00 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur/ Patna/ Bhopal | By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Unseasonal rains with hailstorm over the past two days have caused massive damage to crops at several places in Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, officials said.

In Madhya Pradesh, hail damaged crops in at least 10 districts, including Mandla, Dindori, Katni and Satna. (Photo: Sanjeev Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

According to Bihar government officials, rain and hailstorm in parts of south and north Bihar adjacent to Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday damaged flowering and fruiting oilseed, pulses, vegetables, tobacco crop, and blossoming mango orchards.

In some parts of Kaimur, Rohtas and Aurangabad, hail of up to 20mm was recorded within a few hours on Monday and Tuesday, officials said. Strong winds with speeds of up to 40 km per hour resulted in damage to mango trees in several areas.

“We are finished,” said Amit Singh, a farmer of Badhauna village in Vaishali district. “The Rabi crop was our last hope for survival. Heavy rain in November, December and January destroyed our paddy crops.”

Umesh Kumar Mandal, joint director (agriculture), said rain and hailstorm may have harmed the flowering pulses and oilseed crops and the fruiting crops to some extent. “The government would surely provide compensation to the farmers,” he said.

In Madhya Pradesh, hail damaged crops in at least 10 districts, including Mandla, Dindori, Katni, Satna, agriculture department officials said. Agriculture minister, Sachin Yadav, said a survey of the damaged crops is going on. “It is only after the survey that the extent of the damage can be ascertained. The government stands by the farmers and it will extend assistance to them based on the survey report.”

In Chhattisgarh, the state government instructed district collectors on Wednesday to find the estimate of the crop loss. Heavy rain and hailstorm have affected crops in Surguja, Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur region, officials said.

Indresh Pandey, a farmer, said all farmers of Raipur are badly hit as crops of chickpeas (gram/chana), wheat, and tomato had been damaged. “I have grown wheat, tomato, and chickpeas on my 10 acres of land in Sejbahar village, which is of no use now,” said Pandey. Agriculture minister, Ravindra Choubey, said chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has instructed all collectors to assess the damage and compensation will be paid to all the farmers.

(With inputs from Bihar, MP Bureaus)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.