Rain, hailstorm damage crops in Himachal Pradesh India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Heavy rain and hailstorms added to woes of drought-hit farmers in Himachal Pradesh. Heavy rains and hailstorms have lashed the region for two days. Although the actual extent of the loss is not yet known, the farmers put it around 50 per cent of their crop. "My entire paddy crop is damaged due to rain and storm. Nobody from the government has come here to see us. Now, we have nothing even for our cattle. Our survival now solely depends on compensation from the government," said Roshan Lal, a farmer. Meanwhile, the authorities are busy collecting the data from various districts of the State. According to the agricultural authorities, compensation would be given to the farmers who got their crops insured fulfilling the parameters of insurance policy. "The farmers who have got their crops insured under the crop insurance scheme, they will be given the compensation according to the guidelines of the policy," said HR Nur, Additional Director, agriculture, North Zone. Large scale destruction of paddy and other crops have been reported from Kangra valley, Mandi and Chamba districts of the State.