JABALPUR: Hailstorm on two consecutive nights — Saturday and Sunday — has taken its toll on rabi crop in Mahakaushal region. With reports trickling in, Jabalpur division seems to have been worst-hit along with part of Satpura belt. And even as official teams have been dispatched to assess and evaluate ground situation, Seoni district has reported extensive damage up to 100%, according to official information reaching here.
Talking to TOI on Monday, Jabalpur divisional commissioner Deepak Khandekar said though acerage of the affected area is yet to be ascertained nature's vagary dealt the worst blow to 100 villages in Seoni. The Satpura belt, comprising Chhindwara, Betul and Seoni, is known for faring worst due to higher altitude and suffering most from weather swings. This time too, it has lived up to its reputation as well.
The estimated damage, an officer said, could be anything between 50% and 100%. Since the hailstorm that wrecked the district has left sheets of solid ice covering fields, no realistic assessment can be made till the ice melts. But going by reports so far and fears, rabi crop in the belt seems to be fully damaged.
Luckily, the damage in Jabalpur and Katni is not widespread and extensive. The damage suffered in Jabalpur is confined to dozen-odd villages and in Katni, the number is slightly higher at 15, Official reports report. Sources said hailstones weighing 50 to 100 gram were seen strewn around fields in Vijayraghavgarh, Umariapan and Bohoriband in Katni district. Teams are also out in fields surveying the scene in Mandla, which recorded heaviest rainfall at 3 cm, Narsinghpur and Dindori to evaluate the ground situation.
In Jabalpur city, untimely rainfall brought down temperature by 3.5 degrees celsius. Though Monday proved to be partially sunny, sky was far from clear. Weather affected flight schedule and delay of six hours reported. Dense fog led to jam on national highways and frequent blackouts made life difficult on the city's outskirts.
Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
