Pune: Unseasonal Rain and Hailstorm Ravage Crops in Ambegaon Taluka
Ambegaon, 27th November 2023: On Sunday evening, heavy unseasonal rain accompanied by a hailstorm wreaked havoc on several villages in the eastern part of Ambegaon taluka, causing extensive damage to crops. Villages including Avasari Budruk, Mengadewadi, Jarkarwadi, Pondewadi, Khadakwadi, Dhamani, Loni, WalunjNagar, Ranmala, Lakhangaon, and Kathapur Budruk bore the brunt of the unexpected weather conditions.
The onslaught of heavy hail began around four o’clock in the evening in Mandalewadi, Wadgaonpir, and the Shirdale area, leading to widespread destruction of crops. Fields in this area reported significant damage, impacting a variety of crops.
Santosh Rambhau Sukre of Khadakwadi faced substantial losses as the hailstorm hit during the ongoing potato harvesting, causing the harvested potatoes to burst in the field. Additionally, onion plants in his field were destroyed. Jayesh Walunj reported heavy damage to fenugreek and coriander crops in his fields.
Onion traders Mahendra Walunj and Nitin Narvade noted that onions brought by farmers for sale in the sub-market premises of Loni Bazar Samiti got wet due to the gusty wind accompanying the hailstorm.
Local leaders and sarpanches, including Tripti Mahendra Walunj of WalunjNagar, Neelam Anil Walunj of Pondewadi, Ujwala Atul Adak of Mandlewadi, Reshma Ajit Borhade of Dhamani, and Meera Sanjay Pokharkar of Wadgaonpir, called for immediate government intervention. They demanded a prompt assessment (panchnama) of the damages in the affected areas and urged the government to provide immediate compensation to the affected farmers.
