Unseasonal rain, hailstorms batter Maharashtra crops, two dead in Nashik division

Unseasonal rains accompanied by hailstorms and strong winds have caused widespread disruption across Maharashtra, damaging crops on more than 1.22 lakh hectares and affecting tens of thousands of farmers across multiple regions of the state.

Officials confirmed two rain-related deaths in Nashik division , where repeated spells of heavy rain during the last week of March and early April triggered large-scale agricultural losses and disrupted daily life.

According to the state agriculture department, more than 82,000 farmers across north Maharashtra, western Maharashtra, Marathwada and Vidarbha have been affected by the sudden weather changes. Surveys are currently underway to assess the full extent of damage before compensation is announced.

The worst-hit districts include Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Jalgaon, Dhule, Buldhana and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Initial estimates show damage on nearly 29,812 hectares in Nashik , 23,633 hectares in Ahilyanagar and 22,361 hectares in Jalgaon, with thousands of villages reporting crop losses.

North Maharashtra alone has recorded damage on more than 64,000 hectares , impacting over one lakh farmers. Talukas such as Baglan, Malegaon, Sinnar and Niphad were among the hardest hit as repeated rain spells between March 19-20 and March 29-31 flattened standing crops.

A wide range of crops has been affected, including wheat, gram, maize, jowar, onion and vegetables, along with high-value horticultural crops such as grapes, pomegranate, banana and mango. In several areas onion stocks rotted due to waterlogging while papaya saplings and fruit orchards suffered heavy losses.

Agriculture minister Dattatray Bharne said field surveys and panchnamas are being conducted to determine compensation for affected farmers.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department has warned of further rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning and possible hailstorms in the coming days, raising concerns among farmers already struggling with severe crop damage.