Hailstorm, heavy rain lash Jind, farmers apprehend crop loss
A hailstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall struck parts of Haryana, particularly Jind district, late Thursday night, triggering widespread concern among farmers over crop damage.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jind recorded the highest rainfall in the state at 34.7 mm, while Jhajjar received 4.5 mm and Indri in Karnal district recorded 2.5 mm. The downpour also led to a dip in minimum temperatures across the state, with Sirsa hitting the lowest at 7.4°C. Other regions saw similar drops: Hisar (9.9°C), Karnal (10.8°C), Gurgaon (12.8°C) and Faridabad (12.9°C).
The hailstorm, accompanied by strong winds blowing at speeds of 20 km/hour, caused extensive damage to wheat and mustard crops in over 30 villages in Jind district. The worst-affected regions include Narwana, with areas like Uchana, Jind and Pillukhera also reporting significant damage.
Farmers reported that wheat fields were flattened, while mustard plants suffered heavy fruit drop, leading to concerns over reduced yields. Villages like Dhatasinghwala, Ujhana and Belarkhan were covered by hailstones, with residents describing a 10-15 minute storm followed by heavy rain.
Dr Girish Nagpal, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Jind, urged farmers to report crop damage within 72 hours. “Timely reporting is crucial for assessment and potential compensation,” he said.
Jind district, where wheat covers around 2.15 lakh hectares, is expected to see a notable drop in crop yield due to the storm. Farmers expressed concerns that the flattened crops could affect both quality and quantity.
The weather department has predicted clear skies in the coming days with a gradual rise in temperatures. However, another shift in weather patterns is expected by Wednesday, potentially affecting recovery efforts.
Dr Madan Khichar, Head of the Agricultural Meteorology Department at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, provided insights into upcoming weather trends. “The weather is expected to remain variable but dry until February 26. Light to moderate northern and northwestern winds will persist until February 24, possibly leading to cooler nights. However, due to the partial influence of a western disturbance on February 25-26, some areas may experience partial cloud cover and a slight dip in daytime temperatures,” he said.
