An aid package is being prepared for farmers whose crops had been damaged by the hailstorms in Marathwada, Vidarbha and other parts of Maharashtra recently, the state government said today.
"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, Minister for Forests, Rehabilitation and Earthquake Relief Works, told PTI.
He declined to comment when asked if the media reports putting the damage at Rs 340 crore were true.
Hailstorms have lashed parts of Solapur, Sangli, Beed, Aurangabad, Latur, Parbhani and Nagpur districts.
Hailstorms, which are a rare occurrence in these parts, took the locals by surprise. In some parts the storms were so severe that traffic was affected as ice balls visibly covered the roads.
Hundreds of birds and cattle were killed in various parts of the state and large patches of cereal, cash crops, vegetable cultivations and orchards were severely damaged.
Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said farmers would be duly compensated, and as it was a natural calamity, the model code of conduct would not be a hindrance.
In Marathwada, half the crop over 1.06 lakh hectares is totally destroyed, whereas half the crop over other 2.45 lakh hectares is partially damaged. Cultivation of jowar, maize, cotton, pulses, watermelon, mangoes and other fruit trees have been destroyed, officials said.
