Hailstorms hit Maharashtra farmers where it hurts

PUNE: Parts of the arid state of Maharashtra and most of central India now look like the hill stations in the Himalayas thanks to the unusual hailstorm in this part from the past one week. The size, spacial spread, intensity and cause of the hailstorm are all unusual both for the farmers as well as the meteorologists, who say a respite from hailstorms won't come till March 13. 


The rains has damaged crops on 6.72 lakh hectare in Maharashtra. Even as the state agricultural department is assessing the damage, horticulture cash crops like grapes, pomegranates and oranges have been affected the most.