Untimely rain continues, farmers count their losses

Downpour, hailstorm may recede from today, but likely to return

- SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

Unseasonal rainfall, accompanied by strong winds and hailstorm, continued to lash vast swathes of North and Central India on Monday, increasing the anxiety of wheat growers who were about to harvest their standing crop. And the government, which has been trying hard to tame inflation for a while now, also took note of it.

It acknowledged on Monday that there has been some damage to the crop, but added that there is no concern about mustard and chickpea (chana) crops which have been harvested. The weather has taken an about turn in the last few days.

Earlier, experts were concerned about a drop in wheat yield due to the heat wave.

And on Monday, mercury in several states registered a considerable dip due to continuous rain which also poses a threat to mustard, chana, sugarcane, seasonal vegetables and horticulture crops.