Swarm of locust detected in Banaskantha Dist

Palanpur, July 9 (UNI) A swarm of locusts, probably isolated from the main swarm, was sighted near Indo-Pak border in Vav taluka of Banaskantha district.

A swarm of about 400 to 500 locusts was seen perched on trees near the Parbatana Lake.

Though the swarm was detected by the Range forest officials three to four days ago, it was revealed today after due examination to confirm the type of locust in as many as eight pieces, said Range Forest Officer B S Solanki.

He said the locusts found on the trees were of less harmful variety.

Mr Solanki said the swarm was sighted hovering across the Indo-Pak border but they could not confirm immediately whether they were locusts indeed.

''We informed the mamlatdar and Agriculture Department of their presence in the desert region, near Nadabet, on Indo-Pak border,'' he said.

''The locusts have been identified as tree locust second grade, which are less harmful in comparison to the first catatgory desert locusts,'' Mr Solanki clarified.

Collector Hareet Shukla said ''A forest official had sighted the locusts but they were not huge in number so as to create panic. A team of the agriculture department has been rushed to Nadabet to verify the type of the locust.'' Mr Solanki said, ''A team from Plan Protection office (Locust), Palanpur, which was present in the region, has also identified the pest as the tree locust.'' ''Right now, they are settled peacefully about 7 km away from Nadabet surrounded by water, which isn't accessible,'' he added.

UNI