By Kokila Bhandari, Dhankuta, Apr. 24: Millions worth of vegetables cultivated in the Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality, a major area for organic vegetables cultivation, were destroyed by the hailstorm on April 15.

An inspection committee of the Agriculture Division at Chhathar Jorpati prepared and made public a report of hailstorm’s damage. The damage was higher in Ward 2, 5 and 6 of the local level while three other wards also saw some damage.

As per the report, vegetables, fruits and cash crops worth around Rs. 480 million were destroyed by the hailstorm in the six wards of the municipality.

“Ward 6 incurred most of the damage with Rs. 200 million losses. There was a damage of Rs. 130 million in Ward 5 and over Rs. 110 million losses in Ward 2,” read the report.

Vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, potato, chilli, maize, tomato, cucumber and cardamom alongside fruits, grass and livestock sustained the damage from the hailstorm.

The hailstorm had caused the damage on April 15 and the local level has stated that they have asked the provincial and central government alongside concerned authorities to provide compensation to the farmers.

“We have decided to provide compensation to help the farmers. We have requested and are lobbying with concerned authorities for it,” said Sher Bahadur Limbu, Chhathar Jorpati Rural Municipality’s Chairman.