Pune, Maharashtra: Unseasonal rains and hailstorms over the weekend wreaked havoc on standing crops and residential structures in western and northern regions of Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha, reported Hindustan Times.
In Marathwada, the untimely showers affected 107 revenue circles in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli, Nanded, and Beed. Additionally, four talukas in Nashik district, along with Ambegaon and Shirur talukas in Pune district, encountered abrupt and intense rainfall, as reported by the state agriculture department.
Nashik, Ahmednagar, and Pune districts bore the brunt of the rain, accompanied by hailstorms. Praveen Gedam, the state agriculture commissioner, estimated that approximately 50,000 hectares of land have been adversely affected. Among the worst-hit districts are Nashik, Buldhana, and Ahmednagar, with onion and grape crops suffering the most damage.
In Nashik, the Niphad tehsil witnessed substantial losses as mature grapes ready for harvest were severely impacted by the unseasonal rains. Dada Bhuse, the guardian minister of Nashik district, toured the affected areas, acknowledging the significant losses faced by grape farmers. Bhuse directed the Nashik district collector to expedite the panchnama process and seek urgent financial assistance from the chief minister’s fund to address the crisis.
According to the Pune district administration, several villages, including Avsari Budruk, Mengadewadi, Jarkarwadi, Pondewadi, Khadakwadi, Dhamani, Loni, Walunjnagar, Ranmala, Lakhangaon, and Kathapur Budruk, suffered the consequences of the unexpected rainfall.
Co-operatives and district guardian minister Dilip Walse-Patil visited the rain-affected areas of the Pune district, assuring farmers of government support through financial and allied assistance. He emphasized the swift completion of panchanamas to facilitate timely compensation to affected villagers. Walse-Patil noted the widespread impact on various crops such as sugarcane, potato, onion, maize, sorghum, pomegranate, and wheat due to the unseasonal weather.
Accompanied by local officials and stakeholders, Walse-Patil identified specific villages, including Kurwandi (Satgaon Plateau), Jarkarwadi, Dhamani, Loni, Vadgaonpir, Valanjnagar, Ranmala, Khadakwadi, Pondewadi in Ambegaon taluka; Vadner, Savindane, Kavthe Yemai, Malthan, Malwadi, Mahse, Nimgaon Dude, and Hani Takwadi in Shirur taluka; and Sablewadi, Shingarwadi, Uchalevasti, Dongargan Tamkharwadi in Pune district, as being severely impacted by the unseasonal rainfall.
