Nashik, Mar 21 :Heavy rain, accompanied by thunder, lightning and hail, battered Nashik and Ahmednagar districts in the last 24 hours, damaging crops that were ready for harvest.
About an hour and a half of heavy rains along with hail has caused severe damage to standing crops in Dapur and Dodi areas of Sinnar taluka ion Sunday afternoon. Aggrieved farmers have demanded a ‘panchnama’ of the damaged crops.
Dodi, Dapur, Gonde, Chapadgaon, Shivajinagar, Duttnagar, Khambale and other areas received unseasonal rains.
Crops such as wheat, gram, sorghum, millet, okra, tomato, chilli and onion have been severely damaged during the rabi season.
Wheat and millet crops have been totally flattened in Dapur area due to wind and rain.
A cow died after being hit by lightning at Gonde Shivara of the tehsil.
Heavy rain along with hail also lashed the Nihad tehsil of the district on Saturday, destroying the vineyards.
Hailstorm completely damaged the ripe grapes, wheat and leafy vegetables, shattering hopes of millions of farmers of time-bound repayment of loans.(UNI)