Hailstorms Leave Farmers in Junga Reeling as Crops Are Wiped Out

Relentless hailstorms over the last three to four days have shattered the livelihoods of farmers across several panchayats in Junga tehsil. Areas such as Koti, Junga, Padhechi, Darbhog, Satlai, Piran, and Balog have witnessed extensive damage to cash crops that many families depend on entirely for their income.

Residents of Fanewat village in Koti Panchayat — including Krishna Datt Sharma, Yashpal Thakur, Chunni Lal Negi, and Ramswaroop — said nearly three inches of hail fell on Sunday, flattening standing crops in nearby villages like Tikri, Thanthia, Bani, Fanewat, and Shawalthi. French beans, potatoes, cabbage, and peas were completely destroyed, while apple blossoms and protective nets also suffered heavy damage. “These cash crops are our only source of income,” the farmers said, adding that the losses have left them deeply worried about the coming months.

Similar scenes were reported from Junga tehsil’s villages of Khil Kajewada, Bankati, Tikri, and Gavana, where fresh hailstorms struck on Monday. Durga Singh Thakur of Khil Kajewada said the devastation is so severe that farmers may not even recover the cost of seeds this year. “It will be difficult to manage even our daily household needs,” he said.

The damage is not limited to Junga alone. In Darbhog Gram Panchayat, villages such as Kataiya Majhar, Ser Dagon, and Kuftu have also seen standing crops ruined. Farmers including Krishna Nand Sharma, Om Prakash, and Ved Prakash reported heavy losses to tomato, capsicum, French beans, cauliflower, and cabbage crops. Krishna Nand Sharma noted that hailstorms have repeatedly hit the area since last week, compounding the damage each time.

In Satlai Panchayat too, several villages have reported similar destruction, with farmers saying there is little left to salvage. The repeated weather events have pushed cultivators to demand immediate compensation from the government to help them cope with the losses.

Confirming the situation, Naib Tehsildar Junga Rajendra Thakur said the hailstorms have caused widespread damage across the tehsil. He added that detailed information has been forwarded to senior officers, raising hopes among farmers that relief measures will be considered soon.