Locusts swarm over UP district, villagers rush out banging pots and pans to protect fields

Much of North and Central India has been on alert since earlier this year due to warnings of a major locust invasion.

A swarm of desert locusts was seen in Baghai village in Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The desert locust is among the most destructive migratory pests as it can eat its own body weight in vegetation | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Baghai, Firozabad: A swarm of desert locusts clouded over Baghai village in Firozabad district in Uttar Pradesh Monday. Locals in the village fled to their farms and banged utensils to scare away the locusts sitting on their crops.

Much of North India has been on alert ever since the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s warned of a major locust attack in eastern Africa, Iran, Pakistan and India earlier this year.

The desert locust is known to be among the most destructive migratory pests due to its speed and ability to multiply. These locusts can fly almost 150 km a day and typically eat their own body weight in vegetation.

ThePrint’s National Photo Editor Praveen Jain brings you glimpses of the locust invasion in Baghai and how locals dealt with it.

Looking up at the swarm of locusts in the sky, young children in Baghai village go to the fields clanging utensils to ensure that the locusts don’t eat their crops. It is believed the noise scares the pests away | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

A girl in Baghai village looks up at the sky in shock and amazement at the swarm of locusts flying overhead. The swarm came in such large numbers that it darkened the sky | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Boys and young men in Baghai village in Firozabad district attempt to shoo away the locusts from their field | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Children look on as a young boy tries chucking a stone at the locusts clouding over the field in Baghai village | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

People stand next to the temple in Baghai, clanging utensils under a speckled sky as locusts swarm over them | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Farmers have been worried about the locusts feeding on their crops as it would destroy an entire season’s hard work, adding to their troubles during an already difficult time | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Everybody came rushing out of their homes in Baghai village to see the locusts swarming over their homes and farmlands. With them also came out young children banging utensils to scare the migratory pests away | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Young children with their mothers stand outside their homes, Nearly every child could be seen armed with a utensil and spoon, ready to start making clanging noises | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

For many children, the entire event was something new as a locust invasion of this size hasn’t been seen in India in decades | Praveen Jain | ThePrint