Unseasonal rains, thunder squalls and hailstorm on Monday damaged crops extensively in Madhya Pradesh, especially in the western districts including capital Bhopal.
The state government has directed district administrations to start the survey to find out the extent of damage so that relief could be provided to farmers.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that he has spoken in detail with officials in the affected areas. “Teams are in the field. Survey has been started. Farmer brothers and sisters, you need not worry. I and my government are with you,” Chouhan said. Severe damage has been reported to wheat and gram crops, with standing plants hit by the hailstorm and rain, sources said.
Spurred by presence of a western disturbance over south Rajasthan and a trough line extending from Goa to Chhattisgarh, many parts of Madhya Pradesh witnessed high-speed winds, thunderstorm, rainfall and hailstorm on Monday afternoon and evening.
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhopal reported damages to crops, infrastructure, and uprooting of trees due to strong winds and hail in large parts of Mandsaur and in Shajapur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Rajgarh Sehore, Guna, Dhar, Alirajpur, Barwani, Vidisha, Bhopal, Ujjain and Sagar districts. Hailstorm was also reported in most of these districts as well as in Dewas, Raisen, Chhindwara and Seoni districts.
Ved Prakash Singh, Scientist of RMC, Bhopal told THE WEEK said parts of the state were expected to receive hailstorms on Tuesday evening too and the rainfall and thunderstorm activities, though with reduced intensity, are likely to continue on March 8.
The RMC predicted that moderate thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur over Chhindwara and Shivpuri along with light thunderstorm and lightning over Sheopur Kalan, Seoni, Balaghat, Narsingpur, Gwalior, Datia and Nivari in the evening hours of Tuesday.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Chief and ex-Chief Minister Kamal Nath tweeted about the crop damage on Monday. He said that hailstorms were reported from the capital Bhopal as well as Ujjain, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Rajgarh, Vidisha, Chhindwara and other districts of the state and there is likelihood of extensive crop damage in these areas. “I request chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to immediately get the extent of damage assessed and distribute relief amounts to the affected farmers as soon as possible.”
Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel said on Tuesday that crop damage has been reported from many districts due to thunderstorm, rain and hailstorm, but the farmers need not worry as district collectors and insurance companies have been asked to conduct surveys and videograph of the damage for the relief process.
Rainfall
(Past 24 hours till 8.30 am on Tuesday, in mms)
Bhopal City - 15.4
Narmadapuram - 9.2
Bhopal - 6.8
Raisen - 5.0
Ratlam - 3.0
Sagar - 2.0
Jabalpur - 1.4
Chindwara - 1.0
Narsinghpur - 1.0