18 killed, lakhs of hectares of crops hit in Marathwada region

At least 18 people were killed and over 7.95 lakh hectares of crops affected due to unseasonal rains and hailstorms in Marathwada.
A total of 3,456 houses were damaged and more than 600 cattle including goats and buffaloes were killed, official sources said here today.
A nine-member Central committee headed by joint secretary of the Union Agriculture Ministry Sanjeev Chopra reviewed the situation here on Thursday, while Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal briefed the committee about losses in the region.
The committee plans to take the stock of losses in Jalna, Osmanabad, Nanded, Parbhani, Aurangabad, Hingoli and Beed before presenting its report to the Union government.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray and others have visited various remote areas in Marathwada region during the last two days.