Hailstorm, unseasonal rains damage crops in Aurangabad District

Unseasonal rains and intense hailstorm along with stormy winds destroyed ready to harvest crop in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, bringing misery to farmers.

The storm comes as a setback especially to the farmers whose hard work has been ruined as most of the ready to harvest crops including rabbi, wheat, jawar, gram has completely been destroyed.

"Our rabbi crop production, our horticulture, our fruit production which include sweet lemon, grapes and Marathwada's kesar mango that was being exported to Japan and the world has been totally damaged, along with that wheat, jawar production has been damaged, everything has been ruined due to the hailstorms and the rains that have been taking place in the last 10 days," Jai, a member of farmer's committee said.

Farmers committee said the state government had issued notice claiming to repay loans taken by framers.

Atleast 12 persons have lost their lives and several others were injured, also most of the domestic animals are dying since last two weeks due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Stormy winds, unseasonal rains and hailstorms lashed out the areas of Marathwada region. The administrative divisions of Sillod, Phulambri, Vaijapur, Gangapur and Khuldabad and the districts of Beed, Nanded, Latur, Osmanabad, and Parbhani have been affected.

Atleast four hundred thousand hectors of land in the eight districts is estimated to be affected, according to division commission office.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has been on Marathwada tour to take stock of the situation.