In the aftermath of hailstorm coupled with heavy rain that struck the state on Saturday, the Agriculture Department in its initial reports said crops on 41,064 acres have suffered a loss of around 50 per cent to 100 per cent in Sonepat district. In Panipat, crops on 1,081 acres have suffered a loss of around 26 per cent to 50 per cent.

Extensive damage has been caused to the standing wheat, mustard and vegetable crops in the villages of Kharkhoda block of Sonepat district, adjoining the Rohtak belt. However, the actual loss would be cleared only after the special girdawari, but the department has conducted a survey to assess the loss to crops in the area and prepared an initial report.

As per the report, wheat crop, mustard, sugarcane and barley on 10,295 acres have recorded a loss of up to 25 per cent; the crops on 42,375 acres suffered a loss between 26 to 50 per cent; the crops on 21,977 acres suffered a loss between 50 to 75 per cent; and the crops on 19,087 acres suffered a loss between 76 to 100 per cent.

As per the available data, in Sonepat the wheat crop has been sown in 3.5 lakh acres and in 2 lakh acres in Panipat. Mustard is sown in 16,000 acres in Sonepat and in 12,000 acres in Panipat. The vegetable crops are around 25,000 acres in Sonepat.

Major loss was reported from the Kharkhoda block villages. As per the report available, Rohat, Jharoth, Jharothi, Sisana, Kakroi, Bhadana, Fatehpur, Gopalpur, Mukimpur, Nirthan, Bidhlan, Gorar, Silana, Sisana, along with the canal, have witnessed major losses.

Ranbir Dahiya, a farmer in Jharoth village, said the heavy spell of hailstorms and rain had damaged the crops badly. The upper seed bunches of wheat have been damaged in the entire village, he added.

DC Manoj Kumar said the agriculture teams conducted surveys, and extensive loss is coming from Kharkhoda block villages. However, the actual loss would be ascertained only after the girdawari. As per the initial reports, extensive crop loss was reported from 17-18 villages of Kharkhoda block due to hailstorms, two to three villages in Sonepat and Rai block, he said. There was no loss reported in Gohana and Gannaur block so far, the DC added. He also urged the farmers to register their crops on ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ portal at the earliest.

Source - https://www.tribuneindia.com