Untimely rain, hailstorm damages ready-to-harvest crops in North Karnataka

YADAGIR: Hailstorms and untimely rain have caused damage to the ready-to-harvest crops of pearl millet, tomato, chilli and corn in the district.

Doddappa, a farmer from Tokapur village, had cultivated tomatoes on his five acres of land after taking a loan of Rs 8-10 lakh. But the ready-to-harvest crop was destroyed in the hailstorm and sudden rain over the last few days. Many farmers like Doddappa, who have lost their standing crops, are now demanding compensation for the loss.

Dodappa, a farmer, had borrowed a loan and cultivated tomato.

“We had grown a tomato crop on our land. Due to the hailstorm and untimely rain, everything is lost. If the government helps us, we can survive. Nothing is left, and everything is destroyed”, said Dodappa.

One of the family members of Dodappa.

“We had cultivated tomato on our five acres of land and invested Rs 8-10 lakh. We worked on the fields but now, everything is destroyed. The government should help us”, said one of Doddappa’s family members.

The untimely rain with hailstorms lashed many parts of North Karnataka, including Bidar and Kalaburagi, since Friday evening. The hailstones have damaged standing crops, and people were surprised to see the hailstones in the road, which looked like snow. The untimely rain has caused damage to properties as well, including vehicles.