AMN
AT LEAST Four persons were killed, and many others injured in the hailstorm that hit several districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha region on Sunday. The hailstorm has also damaged crops over an area of 1.25 lakh hectare across 11 districts.
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Pandurang Fundkar said primary damage assessment report has stated that over 1.25 lakh hectare of crops were damaged in 1,086 villages of 11 districts. Buldana, Amravati and Jalna are the three districts which have reported maximum damage.
The minister informed that Wheat, green gram (chana), sweet sorghum (jowar), onion and grapes have been damaged. He added that banana plantations and vegetables were destroyed in Jalgaon district.
The 11 affected districts were identified as Beed, Jalna, Parbhani, Jalgaon, Buldana, Amravati, Akola, Washim, Latur, Osmanabad and Hingoli.
He said the assessment of the damage would continue for another two days after which farmers would be awarded compensation depending on the surveyors’ report.
