BANI, APRIL 21:- A sudden and intense hailstorm in several parts of the Bani region has devastated crops, undoing months of farmers’ hard work. The hailstorm, which lasted for around 5 to 10 minutes, caused significant damage to standing rabi crops and horticulture produce.Hailstones weighing between 20 to 30 grams were reported,
which severely damaged the crops in the fields. Locals described the size of the hailstones as resembling plastic pellets.The worst-hit areas include upper Bani regions such as Koti, Chandel, Kanthal, Dhaggar, and Machhwa. Both rabi and kharif crops in these areas suffered extensive damage.
Sanjay Kumar, AEO agriculture department, said that the garlic crops have been the most affected, along with considerable damage to onion fields. He mentioned that officials are in contact with farmers and assessing the losses, but a precise estimate is currently difficult. He added that hail has also affected nurseries of chili, brinjal, and tomato crops, which were in their early stages and have been heavily damaged by this natural calamity.
However, Shakeel Ahmad, an official from the horticulture department, said fruit crops in their flowering stage—such as apples, plums, and apricots—were the worst affected. This year was expected to yield a bumper harvest, but the hailstorm has caused many flowers and fruits to fall prematurely, damaging several trees. The injuries to plums and apricots have also increased the risk of fungal infections, potentially affecting both the quality and quantity of the produce. Additionally, the drop in temperature has negatively impacted the flowering process.
Tilak Raj, a local farmer, said, “My entire crop and nursery were destroyed in the hailstorm. There’s nothing left in the field—just broken plants and a white layer that looks like snow. I’ve never witnessed such intense hail before.”
Madan Lal, a horticulture farmer, said, “I had planted around 100 trees on my land, including apple, plum, and apricot trees. The hailstorm ruined everything. Small fruits fell to the ground and got destroyed, and the branches of the trees were also broken. This has caused severe losses.”
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