Storms Batter Himachal; Crops and Roads Hit, Damage Assessment Underway

By A Staff Reporter

Shimla | A severe hailstorm accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc across several parts of Himachal Pradesh last night, damaging crops, flowering plants, and infrastructure. Himachal Pradesh Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi confirmed widespread damage, particularly in the lower regions of the state, and ordered immediate assessment by relevant departments.

“Last night, heavy storm and hailstorm occurred in many areas, causing a lot of damage,” said Negi, addressing the press on Thursday. “There has been crop damage in the lower areas. There has also been a significant impact on flowering plants. We have received information that our apple flowers and stone fruit flowers have suffered a lot.”

The apple and stone fruit crops are vital to Himachal’s agrarian economy, and the reported damage could pose a serious threat to the livelihoods of farmers ahead of the harvest season.

Negi stated that he has instructed the Revenue Department and the Horticulture Department to begin a comprehensive evaluation of the damage. “We need to get an account of the extent of the loss. As of now, I do not have any information about human casualties,” he added.