A western disturbance impacted Rajasthan on March 1st, resulting in heavy rain and hailstorms across several districts, causing significant distress for farmers. Strong winds and hail in Bharatpur, Churu, Alwar, and other districts caused widespread damage to the rabi crop. Given the severity of the situation, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma held an emergency meeting with district collectors, demanding reports and assuring farmers of relief.
Chief Minister Directs Expedited Survey
According to the Meteorological Department, heavy hailstorms occurred in Bharatpur and Dholpur on Saturday evening, leading to waterlogging in several areas. Heavy rain accompanied by b winds in Alwar disrupted daily life, while hailstorms in Jhunjhunu and Tijara devastated standing crops. The Chief Minister instructed officials to expedite the process of providing compensation to farmers to provide them with financial relief.
Temperature Drop, Dense Fog
The Meteorological Department reported heavy hailstorms in Bharatpur and Dholpur on Saturday, March 1st, evening, causing waterlogging in many areas. Meanwhile, heavy rain and b winds in Alwar affected normal life, while hail in Jhunjhunu and Tijara completely ruined standing crops.
Temperatures in several districts of Rajasthan dropped by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius. Cold winds further chilled the weather in Dausa, Karauli, Alwar, and Bharatpur. Dense fog also reduced visibility, impacting road traffic.
Rainfall and Hailstorm Data
According to the Jaipur Meteorological Centre, up to 8:30 AM on Saturday, 28 mm of rainfall was recorded in Churu, while:
• 18 mm in Chidawa, Jhunjhunu
• 14 mm in Malsiesar
• 13 mm in Buhana
• 10 mm each in Tijara and Taranagar (Churu) were recorded.
Light to moderate rainfall was also recorded in other districts, damaging crops like wheat, mustard, and chickpeas.
Compensation for Farmers, but Concerns Remain
The state government has assured farmers that compensation will be announced soon based on the survey. However, the damage to the rabi crop continues to worry farmers. Farmers say the hailstorm has undone months of hard work. They are demanding swift compensation from the government to minimize the impact on their financial situation. The Chief Minister has also promised all possible help to the affected farmers.
This sudden change in weather in Rajasthan has brought significant hardship to farmers. It remains to be seen how quickly the government takes steps to compensate for the losses.
