Overview
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who briefed reporters Friday, put the damaged area at about 2.49 lakh hectares with wheat worst hit.
- Agriculture Ministry sources said the tally could exceed 3 lakh hectares after full surveys, with the largest hits in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.
- The Centre directed states to run joint surveys by the Revenue, Agriculture and Panchayati Raj departments and to post results at village panchayat offices for transparency.
- The India Meteorological Department forecast more rain and hail through April 15 and advised farmers to use hail nets and to harvest mature crops without delay.
- Uttar Pradesh officials launched rapid field checks and a compensation push as farmers reported flattened wheat and orchard damage during this week’s storms.