Agri Minister takes stock of crop losses from hailstorm, heavy rainfall as fresh Western Disturbance looms

New Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday took cognisance of heavy rainfall and hailstorm damage across several states, directing ministry officials to conduct a comprehensive review of crop losses and coordinate with state authorities to gather ground-level information.

The Agriculture Ministry, in a statement, said Chouhan has instructed officials to reach out to concerned state governments and compile damage assessments.

The minister is scheduled to hold discussions with the agriculture ministers of the affected states later in the day over the extent of crop damage.


Chouhan assured farmers that the Modi government stood with them in this hour of crisis.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) warned that a fresh Western Disturbance will affect Northwest India from April 7, triggering widespread rainfall, thunderstorms and hailstorms across Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh through April 10. Thundersqualls gusting up to 70 kmph are likely over parts of Northwest and East India.

Hailstorms -- the primary driver of crop losses -- are forecast over Jammu-Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan on April 7-8, and over East Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada on Sunday. Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal remain in the hailstorm zone through April 8.

Heavy rainfall warnings remain in force for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala and Mahe through April 6, and for Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya through April 9-10. Interior Karnataka, Telangana and Rayalaseema face continued thunderstorm activity through the week.

Maximum temperatures in Northwest India are expected to fall by 3-5 degree Celsius between April 7 and 10, coinciding with the fresh disturbance, while East India will see a gradual decline of 3-4 degree Celsius between April 5 and 8.