IMD forecasts thunderstorms, hail in central India from April 11

NEW DELHI:: The India Meteorological Department forecasts thunderstorms accompanied by squall and hail to occur at isolated places over central and south India from April 11. The unseasonal rains could hamper wheat harvesting across the central India.

Rains are forecast to cover parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka from mid-April. It will later cover few places over Bihar and northeastern states.

The Met department, in its further outlook of the week from April 14-16, said that the next rain-bearing weather system, called ‘western disturbance’, would strike the western Himalayan region from April 15 onwards.

This could lead to rain and thundershowers to occur at a few places over east, northeast, central and south India. Farmers are being advised to postpone irrigation, intercultural operation, and application of plant protection measures and fertilisers to the standing crops. Also, harvested produce should be kept at safer places.

Farmers are being advised to provide mechanical support to young fruit plants, banana and vegetables to prevent the crops from lodging due to strong winds. Use of hail nets for orchard crops to protect them from mechanical damage is also being recommended by the experts.

As per the agriculture meteorological division, in the prevailing minimum temperature (around 18°C) with humidity, black rust may appear in wheat crop or there may be an attack of aphids in late sown wheat crop. Farmers, hence, were advised to keep a check on the pest infestation. Farmers in northwest India could take benefit of the wet soil and plant summer crops like lady finger, cucurbitaceous crops and nursery sowing of vegetables like chilli, tomato and brinjal.