Hailstorm batters crop in upper Shimla region; farmers worried

A heavy hailstorm in many areas of Shimla district today battered crops, mainly of apple and stone fruit. The hailstorm that occurred in Theog, Fagu, Kurfri as well as the Kotgarh region on Saturday afternoon damaged crops as well as anti-hail nets installed to protect them, leaving farmers of the Upper Shimla regions worried.

“A massive hailstorm hit Theog and its surrounding areas. It tore apart hail nets and broke bamboos. Under the weight of the hailstorm, apple branches broke. Apple growers suffered massive damage to both apple plants and stone fruit, including cherries, plum, etc. Also, vegetable growers suffered huge losses, as cauliflower and peas crops were damaged,” said Sohan Thakur, president, Himachal Pradesh Apple Growers Association.

As per the state’s Meteorological Department, the rainfall across the state is very likely to continue till May 9. The department has also issued an orange alert for hailstorms and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds in Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Sirmaur districts and a yellow warning of hailstorms and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds for Kinnaur and Lahaul and Spiti districts on May 4.

Meanwhile, light to moderate rain was recorded in many parts of the state during the past 24 hours. However, no large change in the maximum and minimum temperatures were recorded in the state. Shimla reported a maximum temperature of 22.8°C, Dharamsala (24°C), Manali (15°C), Dalhousie (14.6°C), Kasauli (23.3°C), Kufri (16.9°C), Solan (28.5°C), Mandi (27.8°C), Nahan (31.3°C), Bilaspur (32.5°C), Chamba (18.3°C), Narkanda (15.8°C), Bhuntar (22.1°C), Kalpa (18.7°C), Kangra (27.2°C) and Sundernagar (29.2°C).

Una with 34.4°C maximum temperature was the hottest place in the state while Kukumseri village in Lahaul and Spiti district was the coldest at 5.9°C.