Heavy rainfall causes severe damage to crops

A severe damage has been caused to seasonal Rabi crops as unexpected rainfall and hailstorms in parts of North India continues to lash out.

80% of the crop has been destroyed, Mathura farmers said as they hoped a help from the government.

The news agency ANI reported a Mathura farmer saying, 'there is nothing left now, more than 80% of the crop has been destroyed. We hope government helps us.'

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However, so far the damage is limited to some parts of Uttar Pradesh area but according to forecast by Meteorological Department of India, the damage may increase due to widespread rainfall predictions.

Rain affected areas include Shamli, Meerut, Saharanpur and some places of Western UP. Affected crops are of mustard, wheat and mangoes.

Rains also affect the quality of the grain however, it will take 10 to 15 days to know the actual reports of the damage.

According to reports thundershowers and more rains with gusty winds are expected in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for another three days.

District agricultural officers are also asked to give an initial estimate of damage report to state agricultural department minister Prem Kumar.

According to the central and state norms of compensation, the farmers can only claim compensation for damaged crops if the damge is more than 33% and is caused by hailstorms.