Fadnavis assures help to farmers affected by unseasonal rains, hailstorms

Mumbai: Maharashtra has been rocked by unseasonal rains and hailstorms causing heavy losses to rabi crops in the state. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has also predicted rains on Tuesday in some parts of the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured help to farmers directing the state officials to assess the situation and prepare a preliminary report on damages.

“In the last two days, there have been unseasonal rain and hailstorms. The rabi crops are in various stages of growth. We have urged the district authorities to make a ground assessment and submit a preliminary report,” he said in Nagpur.

Dada Bhuse, minister of public works (public undertakings) also inspected crop damage due to unseasonal rains in Nashik district and ordered officials to conduct panchnama to assess losses in the next two days.

“The panchnama of farms affected by the unseasonal rain will be completed in the next two days. Farmers who have taken crop insurance will inform the insurance companies about their losses. No one will be deprived of help. Efforts will be made to provide immediate financial assistance to the affected farmers,” the minister said.

Unseasonal rain, lightning and hailstorms have lashed parts of northern and western Maharashtra and the Konkan, Vidabha, and Marathwada regions for the last couple of days damaging the rabi crops ready for harvest.

In northern Maharashtra, grape, onion, tomatoes, leafy vegetables cultivation has been hit, whereas the unseasonal rain is likely to affect mango and cashew farming in the Konkan region. In the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions, the untimely rain will affect cotton and cereals.