Farmers across Madhya Pradesh are facing heightened concerns as hailstorms and rainfall threaten crops that are nearly ready for harvest, including wheat, gram, mustard, lentils, and vegetables. The recent hailstorms, with large-sized hailstones reported in several villages, have caused significant damage to wheat crops and raised serious risks for gram and mustard yields.
The weather took a sudden turn in Shahdol on Saturday afternoon, bringing heavy hailstorms and strong winds. The storm also resulted in a fatality, as 55-year-old Ramsakhiya Kewat died after being struck by lightning. She was tending to vegetables in her field near a riverbank and had sought shelter in a hut when the lightning struck.
Additionally, hailstorms were reported in Satna and Maihar, accompanied by heavy morning rain, intensifying the concerns of farmers about crop loss. The Meteorological Department warned that stormy winds could blow at 40 to 50 km/hr in the districts of Rewa, Sidhi, Mauganj, and Anuppur. However, Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, and Narmadapuram remained relatively clear and warm under the influence of a Western Disturbance and two active cyclonic systems.
The abrupt weather shift has replaced the hot and humid conditions of the past week, bringing cloud cover, hailstorms, and rainfall. In Bhopal, the daytime temperature has remained below 35°C for the past three to four days, and similar temperatures are expected to continue for the next few days.
According to a senior meteorologist, the current weather system is expected to persist until March 22, after which another Western Disturbance could become active from March 24, affecting the Western Himalayan region and subsequently causing weather changes in Madhya Pradesh. He also indicated that day and night temperatures may rise by 2 to 3°C in the next 24 hours, as clearer weather is expected over the weekend with no further rainfall warnings.
The impact of the weather was felt across 15 districts of Madhya Pradesh in the last 24 hours, with rain and thunderstorms reported in Shahdol, Anuppur, Sidhi, Satna, Katni, Singrauli, Damoh, Panna, Dindori, Umaria, Sagar, Balaghat, Seoni, Jabalpur, and Rewa. More than 55 cities and towns were affected, with hailstones reported in districts like Sagar and Umaria.
Wind speeds varied across the affected regions, with Singrauli experiencing gusts of 54 km/hr, followed by Rewa at 39 km/hr, Jabalpur at 34 km/hr, Mandla and Sagar at 30 km/hr, and Chhindwara at 28 km/hr.
Farmers in the affected regions continue to worry about significant crop losses, as the unseasonal weather threatens to disrupt the harvest cycle and impact yields, particularly for rabi crops. The state administration is closely monitoring the situation, and assessments of the crop damage are underway.
In addition to direct crop damage, agricultural experts warn that prolonged exposure to excessive moisture can lead to fungal infections in crops like wheat and mustard, reducing both the quality and quantity of the yield. This is particularly concerning for farmers who rely on timely harvesting to prevent spoilage and financial losses.
Local authorities are working with the agricultural department to assess the extent of the damage and prepare relief measures. Farmers affected by the hailstorms may be eligible for compensation under state disaster relief schemes. Officials have urged farmers to report crop losses promptly to facilitate timely assistance.
The Meteorological Department has advised farmers to take preventive measures, such as covering harvested crops and securing standing crops to reduce the risk of further damage. Forecasts indicate a brief respite after March 23, but another weather system is likely to bring renewed challenges later in the month.
State officials emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination between weather agencies and agricultural departments to mitigate the impact of sudden weather changes.
