Rajasthan witnessed severe weather conditions, with heavy rain and massive hailstorms damaging standing crops across several districts. The sudden hailstorm in Churu and surrounding areas left fields covered in a thick blanket of ice, causing extensive damage to mustard, wheat, and gram crops.
Unprecedented Hailstorm in Churu
On Friday evening, the weather turned extremely aggressive across Churu and Sardarshahar regions. The day started with cloudy skies and light drizzle, but by evening, dark clouds intensified, bringing gusty winds, thunder, and lightning.
In several villages of Sardarshahar tehsil, large hailstones pelted down, flattening mustard and wheat crops. Farmers were left devastated as their crops, which were nearing harvest, were severely damaged.
Fields Covered in a White Sheet of Ice
Heavy hailstorms struck areas near Dudhwakhara, Ratanpura, and Dokwa, leaving behind an unprecedented white landscape.
๐น Mangaram Mahla, a local farmer from Ratanpura, shared that for the first time, the region witnessed such an intense hailstorm, turning the sand dunes white.
๐น In some villages, hail accumulated up to 3-4 feet on rooftops, and fields were completely covered, burying standing chickpea crops under a thick layer of ice.
๐น The continuous downpour after the hailstorm further worsened the situation.
Farmers Bear the Brunt of the Hailstorm
๐ Rabi crops, including mustard, wheat, and isabgol (psyllium husk), were heavily damaged in Sardarshahar, Bhani Pura, Loonasar, Ranasar, and Bijrasar.
โ ๏ธ The impact was so severe that standing crops collapsed, and pods fell off prematurely, reducing yield drastically.
๐พ Many farmers invested heavily in their crops this season, but the unexpected storm has now left them with huge financial losses.
Hailstorm Lashes Sand Dunes of Sadulpur
The weather took a sudden turn on Friday evening in Sadulpur, where light rain soon transformed into a fierce hailstorm.
๐น In Ratanpura village, a 20-minute-long hailstorm wreaked havoc.
๐น The size of the hailstones ranged from pea-sized to large, resembling berries, causing damage to houses and fields.
๐น Farmers in Kalana Tibba, Kanawasi, Bairasar Bada, and Bairasar Chhota reported widespread damage to their crops.
Massive Crop Loss in Neem Village
At around 5:30 PM on Friday, a massive hailstorm struck Neem village, causing heavy destruction to mustard and wheat crops.
๐น The mustard crops, laden with pods, were completely knocked down by the storm.
๐น Many farmers had expanded their cultivation this year, expecting higher yields, but the hailstorm shattered their hopes.
๐น Last year, farmers cultivated 15 bighas of cumin, while this year, they expanded it to 35 bighas, but the storm and heavy rainfall destroyed both cumin and isabgol crops.
Final Thoughts: A Weather Disaster for Farmers
The unexpected fury of nature has left farmers in Rajasthan in distress, as the hailstorm and heavy rainfall have devastated standing crops.
๐ง๏ธ The meteorological department has warned of more unpredictable weather patterns in the coming days, raising concerns for farmers still recovering from the losses.
With harvest season approaching, this unseasonal hailstorm has pushed many farmers into financial uncertainty, calling for urgent government assistance and compensation for their losses.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.