Unseasonal Hailstorms and Rain Devastate Crops in Rajasthan and Punjab Days Before Harvest A series of unseasonal hailstorms and torrential rains have wreaked havoc on rabi crops across Rajasthan and Punjab, wiping out entire fields in regions like Bikaner’s Arjunsar and Moga districts. Farmers report 100% loss of wheat, mustard, and chickpea in areas where the damage has been most severe, with the timing of the disaster—days before harvest—exacerbating the crisis. The unseasonal weather has left many struggling to recover, as delayed crop insurance payments and the unpredictability of the climate continue to compound their distress. In Bikaner’s Arjunsar region, farmer Bhagirath Karwasra described the devastation as “a thick white blanket” covering his 7.5-hectare field, a stark contrast to the typical April landscape. The hailstorms, which struck between April 2 and 4, brought hailstones as large as lemons, destroying crops that were just days away from being harvested. Karwasra had planted wheat on 4 hectares, mustard on 3 hectares, and the remainder in barley, chickpea, and psyllium. The loss is staggering: wheat and mustard alone cost him Rs 9.6 lakh on 7 hectares, with yields expected to be zero this season. “One hundred per cent gone,” he said, emphasizing the scale of the destruction. The damage is not isolated to Karwasra’s field. Across 20 villages in Bikaner’s Arjunsar region, farmers are reporting similar losses. Unseasonal hailstorms and heavy rainfall have caused widespread destruction of rabi crops, with rainfall levels far exceeding normal thresholds. In the week beginning March 25, Bikaner recorded 480% excess rainfall, while districts like Dausa saw an astronomical 3,060% excess in a single week.#rajasthan #punjab #bikaner #moga #india_metereological_department
