Mumbai, Apr 3 (PTI) Unseasonal rains accompanied by hailstorms and gusty winds have caused extensive damage to crops and disrupted normal life in several districts of Maharashtra over the past few days, with officials on Friday stating that losses on more than 1.22 lakh hectares of land have been reported.
Two deaths were reported in rain-related incidents in Nashik division in north Maharashtra, officials said.
State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the government will provide compensation to affected farmers, adding that surveys are underway in several areas to assess the extent of losses.
The impact has been severe in north Maharashtra and parts of western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha, affecting over 82,000 farmers, state agriculture department officials said.
The worst-hit districts include Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Buldhana and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where standing and harvested Rabi crops have suffered large-scale damage, revenue department sources added.
Crops ready for harvest such as wheat, gram, jowar and bajra have been flattened in several places, while fruit orchards including grapes, pomegranate and mango witnessed heavy fruit drop, they said.
Vegetables such as onion, tomato and chilli were also damaged, with waterlogging reported in many fields, the sources said.
“Widespread crop damage has been reported due to unseasonal rains, strong winds and hailstorms in the last week of March. Crops spread over more than 1.22 lakh hectares have been affected. Banana, wheat, maize, gram, mango, jowar, watermelon and vegetables were among those severely hit,” state agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne said.
Baramati Lok Sabha MP and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule also expressed concern and said it was essential for the government to provide financial assistance to affected farmers.
“Hailstorms and heavy rains have occurred in Baramati Lok Sabha constituency along with entire Pune district and surrounding areas. This has disrupted daily life. In rural areas, there has been significant damage to crops,” she said.
Harvested wheat has been destroyed, while pulses, corn, pearl millet, sorghum, onions, bananas, eggplants, watermelons, and other crops have also suffered immense losses, Sule added.
In Pimpri Chinchwad, also in Pune district, unseasonal rain led to urban flooding and sanitation issues, with reports of foul-smelling drain water entering residential areas, raising health concerns among residents.
Ambegaon taluka in Pune district also witnessed heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning on Thursday afternoon, disrupting normal life and damaging both agricultural produce and brick kilns, officials said.
Villages such as Kalamb, Avasari, Lauki and Chandoli reported intense rainfall, while waterlogging on the Pune-Nashik highway caused difficulties for commuters, they added.
Farmers in the region rushed to protect harvested onions, potatoes and fodder, while fruit crops such as grapes, mango and chikoo are feared to have suffered major losses. Mango blossoms have fallen in large quantities, affecting expected yields, they said.
“We suffered major losses due to the sudden rainfall. Prepared stock has been damaged,” a brick kiln owner from Chandoli village said.
Officials said north Maharashtra alone accounted for nearly 64,000 hectares of crop damage, including more than 50,000 hectares in Nashik division. In Dhule district, more than 8,000 hectares were impacted, while hailstorms caused damage in Solapur and adjoining areas, they added.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has warned of more heavy rainfall, strong winds and possible hailstorms in the next three to four days. PTI ND BNM
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