Agri Minister Urges Crop Damage Assessment Post Heavy Rainfall
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan acknowledged the extensive damage caused by heavy rainfall and hailstorms in multiple states, and has instructed ministry officials to conduct a thorough assessment of crop damages and collaborate with state authorities to gather detailed information at the grassroots level.
The minister plans to engage in conversations with the agriculture ministers from the states impacted by the natural disaster to assess the severity of the crop losses.
Also Read: CM Rekha Gupta Unveils Delhi's Air Pollution Mitigation Plan
He has instructed officials from the Ministry of Agriculture to evaluate the agricultural losses resulting from unfavorable weather conditions and to engage in discussions with the agriculture ministers of the affected states.
Chouhan provided reassurance to farmers that the Modi administration was in solidarity with them during this period of turmoil. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a cautionary advisory regarding an impending Western Disturbance that is expected to impact the Northwestern region of India starting on April 7th.
This weather system is forecasted to result in significant levels of rainfall, thunderstorms, and hailstorms across several states including Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh through April 10th.
Furthermore, there is a potential for thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching up to 70 kmph in parts of Northwest and East India.
Hailstorms, the main cause of agricultural damage, are predicted to occur in regions including Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan on the 7th and 8th of April. Additionally, these weather conditions are expected to impact East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra, and Marathwada on Sunday. The states of Bihar, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal are also susceptible to hailstorms until the 8th of April.
Also Read: INS Taragiri Reinforces India's Maritime Strength: Rajnath Singh
There are ongoing advisories for heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala, and Mahe until April 6. Similarly, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya are also under warnings until April 9-10.
Throughout the upcoming week, regions such as Interior Karnataka, Telangana, and Rayalaseema can expect persistent thunderstorm activity.
Also Read: India, South Korea to Boost Skill Development in Shipbuilding
In the coming days, there is a prediction of a decrease in maximum temperatures in Northwest India by 3-5 degrees Celsius due to a new disturbance, with this change expected to occur between April 7 and 10. Similarly, East India is anticipated to experience a gradual drop in temperatures by 3-4 degrees Celsius from April 5 to 8.