Farmers in Rajasthan are worried about the damage to crops due to unseasonal rains in the state. Dholpur city, which had been witnessing bad weather for the past three days, received rain on Thursday.

Rains, accompanied by hailstorms and strong winds, damaged crops in fields spread across several metres. 

Speaking to reporters, some farmers said they had put in efforts to manage their fields. However, bad weather conditions and heavy rain have caused extensive damage to a variety of crops.

Further, farmers said they are now hoping the government would intervene and would carry out a survey to assess the damage to fields and crops. 

Following the survey, the government should announce some amount as compensation to the farmers, they said.

According to the meteorological department, several districts in Rajasthan received a downpour on Wednesday. The agency said Fatehgarh in Jaisalmer received the maximum rainfall of 26 mm in the 24-hour period up to 8 am on Wednesday, followed by Dungarpur 9 mm, Sarwad of Ajmer and Sindri of Barmer 7 mm each, Aranai of Ajmer 5 mm.

Several other places in the state also received rain.

The spokesman said a hailstorm was recorded in some places during this period.

The weather department further said another new Western Disturbance is on the forecast and will be active in the state from March 13-14, during which thunderstorms are likely to lash the state. 

CROPS DAMAGED IN MADHYA PRADESH AS WELL

Wheat fields have suffered extensive damage in the state due to heavy rain and hailstorms. 

Farmers in some parts of the state, urging the government to release compensation for them, told reporters some of their crops have suffered as much as 80 per cent damage.

WHAT IMD HAD SAID 

Before the festival of Holi, the IMD had said Rajasthan and large parts of western and central India are expected to witness thundershowers and hailstorms over the next few days in the run-up to Holi.

The weather department had said the western Himalayan region is also likely to witness isolated to scattered rainfall or snowfall. 

It notified that Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat will receive light to moderate thunderstorms from March 4 to 8.

Source - https://www.indiatoday.in