Heavy rainfall, hailstorm lash Raj; crop damage feared

Heavy rainfall and hailstorm lashed parts of Rajasthan on Thursday, damaging crops in some districts.

The sudden spell of rainfall led to water logging in several areas of the state capital Jaipur and a number of vehicles were stuck on streets.

Barmer recorded 9.2 mm rainfall followed by 0.4mm in Jaipur, a MeT official said.

Farmers in some districts, including Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur and Dausa said they feared the sudden hailstorm could have further damaged their crops.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said all help would be provided to farmers. He asked Chief Secretary DB Gupta to seek crop damage reports from district collectors.

BJP state president Satish Poonia said sudden hailstorms this month damaged crops in 15 districts. He said the state government could not give satisfactory reply when opposition legislators raised the issue in assembly.

He said in 15 districts, only 2,246 farmers in Jodhpur district have been given compensation so far and the rest were told that crop loss was less than 33 per cent.