Crop in over 8 lakh hectares hit by hailstorm in Maharashtra

Crop in more than eight lakh hectares in Maharashtra has been damaged by untimely rain and hailstorm in some parts of the state, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said here today.
"I have spoken to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in this regard," the Chief Minister said, adding he would visit the affected areas tomorrow.
"Relief would be provided to affected farmers and the Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha elections will not be a hindrance in this," Chavan said.
A Central team would also visit the affected areas in three days, the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Pawar and senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde were among those who visited affected areas in Marathwada today.
Hailstorms have had a wider impact on crops, since a large quantity of crops including wheat, grapes, mustard and vegetables have been damaged in Maharashtra.
The Maharashtra government is assessing the damage to crop due to the untimely rain and hailstorm. Most of the damage has been reported from Vidarbha, Marathwada and parts of western Maharashtra.
"We are assessing the crop damage due to the recent hailstorm, which is still continuing at many places. I have spoken to the Chief Minister. Relief measures will come up for Cabinet approval," Patangrao Kadam, state minister for Forests, Rehabilitation and Earthquake Relief Works, said.