Rains: Heavy crop damage in 3 states, MP toll rises to 50

New Delhi, Mar 11 (UNI) Incessant rains accompanied by hailstorms caused heavy damage to crops in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra as the death toll in the unseasonal downpour rose to 50 in Madhya Pradesh today.

Reports from Bhopal said the rains have caused heavy damage to crops over an area of 46,000 hectares in over 1500 villages in more than 30 districts and the Madhya Pradesh government machinery was engaged in assessing the damage, official sources said.

The human casualties in the state were caused by lightning and rain-related incidents. At least 120 people were also injured.

More than 200 head of cattle perished and about 2,000 houses have been damaged in the calamity so far.

In Rajasthan, harvested crops like mustard, coriander, jeera and isabgol have been damaged by the hailstorm. Besides, ripened crops cut and lying on the fields have been totally damaged. The farmers were complaining of not being compensated adequately by the district administration.

In Maharashtra, heavy downpour continued to lash Western Vidarbha's Akola, Buldana and Washim districts for the second day in succession, claiming three more lives and injuring four others.

The rains also killed livestock and cattle and damaged standing rabi crops and vegetables and fruits, official sources said.

A severe cyclonic storm razed Koraha Barzar village in Motala taulka of Buldana district last evening while Manoka and Hiwara villages in Khamgaon taluka were hit by hailstorm, sources said.

Tamil Nadu received unseasonal rains due to an upper air trough with the city of Tuticorin experiencing heavy downpour.

Heavy rains lashed Tuticorin district on Thursday and yesterday, inundating at least five villages and triggering floods in jungle streams, damaging the Tuticorin-Ottapidaram highway.

A one km stretch on the state highway was severely damaged, official sources said.

However, showers came as a welcome relief for the people, who had been sweating under oppressive heat for the past one week, with mercury touching 34 degree celsius.

Heavy rains lashed the national capital early this morning.

The rainfall, which began at 0030 hrs and continued till early this morning, resulted in sharp drop in the minimum temperature in the capital to 15 degrees Celsius, from 19 degrees Celsius recorded yesterday.

About 10.2 mm of rainfall was recorded till 0830 hrs, the met office said.

Eds: Here pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI Team PK HT1945