Farmers in Saurashtra are a worried lot following the unseasonal showers that were received on Sunday and Monday.

Major damage to the harvested crop of wheat, cotton, chilly and coriander has been reported from the agriculture produce committee markets (APMCs) across the region. The harvested crop lying in the open got spoilt by the rain and thunderstorm. The losses are estimated to be in crores. Even the standing sesame crop has been destroyed to a large extent.

The mango orchard owners are also worried a lot since the change in weather conditions at the time of ripening and harvest will have an impact on mango production and quality.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials have issued a rainfall warning for the next 24 hours in the region. They said light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at isolated places in Saurashtra region, including the Union Territory of Diu.

On Sunday, blistering heat throughout the afternoon gave way to sudden cyclonic conditions in the evening that brought rain and hailstorm at most places across Saurashtra, parts of north Gujarat and Kutch. Monsoon-like atmosphere prevailed in Rajkot city that was pounded by heavy rain and hail. Gushing winds, thundering and rain had lashed most parts of Amreli, Surendrangar, Bhavnagar districts along with Rapar in Kutch.

Sources said showers were reported in parts of Saurashtra region on Monday also. The weather suddenly turned chilled on Monday evening in Rajkot city as the city received showers amid thundering and lightening.

Weather department officials said 40 degrees celsius was the maximum temperature in the region recorded at a number of places, including Amreli and Surendranagar districts.

Sources said Rabi crops have been sown on 10, 21,600 hectares till March 31 which amounts to 75 per cent of sowing as compared to the last year.

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/