Three die: hailstorms damage wheat crops and vegetables

Ranchi, Feb 13 (UNI) At least three people died due to lightning and vegetables, wheat and mango were destroyed in rains and a hailstorm in the past three days.

Police today said two persons were killed in Padma and Barkathha area of Hazaribagh district and one in Gomia block area of Bokaro due to lightning.

Meanwhile, a weather bulletin issued by the Met office here said the weather would remain cloudy and moderate rain was expected.

About 45 mm of rain was recorded and temperature dropped in all the districts of Jharkhand except Jamtara and West Singhbhum in the past three days, the bulletin added.

Birsa Agricultural University scientist A Wadood said the hailstorm had affected most of the crops in different areas of the state.

He said about 2 feet of ice covered the entire fields damaging 90 to 100 per cent of the produce in the Pithoria area of the state capital.

Besides, crops including wheat and vegetables were also damaged in Lohardega, Saraikela, Palamu, Garwah, Bokaro, Hazaribagh, Giridih, Dhanbad and Deoghar districts.

UNI