The Churu district of Rajasthan known for its scorching temperatures and arid terrain witnessed an unusual hailstorm and heavy rainfall, transforming parts of the Great Indian Thar Desert into a surreal winter-like landscape. Villages such as Bhanipura, Bisarasar, Rajasar, and Sardarshahar were blanketed in hail, with farmers counting heavy losses as crops neared harvest.
Hailstones, described as the size of jujubes, wreaked havoc on farmlands, devastating mustard, wheat, barley, isabgol, fenugreek, and gram crops. Vishnu Parikh, a farmer from Rajasar Panwaran, expressed his distress, stating, “Everything we worked for this season is gone in minutes. The damage is severe.” Another farmer, Raj Kumar Sharma, called for immediate government relief and compensation, fearing an economic setback for local cultivators.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a gradual decline in extreme weather conditions over northwest India. However, hailstorm warnings remain in place for Uttar Pradesh’s Kasganj, with moderate rainfall expected in Sahaswan, Badaun, Sikandra Rao, and Ganjdundwara.
Weather disruptions are also impacting Western and Central Uttar Pradesh, the Western Himalayan region, and parts of southern India. Meanwhile, Delhi experienced light showers on Saturday morning, with its Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the “moderate” range, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.
As climate patterns grow increasingly unpredictable, the unseasonal deluge in Churu serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of farmers in extreme weather events.