Heavy hailstorms in Jumla destroy crops, police deployed for damage assessment

By Netra Shahi

Khalanga, May 25: A powerful hailstorm in Jumla has caused distress among farmers, damaging crops across all eight local bodies of the district, including Tila and Patarasi Rural Municipalities.

Farmers reported that nearly half a foot thick hailstones accumulated in Ward No. 9 of Tila Rural Municipality. The heavy hail and accompanying rain damaged crops such as apple saplings and Marsi rice seedlings. 

Local Umesh Rawat said the one-hour-long hailstorm that struck from 4 to 5 pm on Friday evening destroyed crops and disrupted daily life.

According to him, barley that was ready for harvest has been completely crushed in the fields. Wheat planted in nearby fields was also damaged, along with other crops like beans, potatoes, maize and buckwheat.

Meanwhile, in Hima Rural Municipality-1, farmer Bir Bahadur Shahi reported hailstones nearly four inches in diameter. He shared that he was herding sheep in Patan of Hima-2 when the hailstorm struck, making it difficult to protect the livestock. The hailstorm not only destroyed apple blossoms but even stripped leaves off the trees.

Leaves from apple, peach and walnut trees have fallen due to the hail. According to farmer Umesh Rawat, “This hailstorm was heavier than last winter’s snowfall. It is the first time we have seen hail of this intensity,” locals said. Farmers have been reporting crop damage to the authorities.

Local governments ask for damage reports

Chief District Officer Ram Bahadur Shahi said that local governments must assess and report the actual damage suffered by farmers. He informed that the District Disaster Management Committee has decided to request damage reports from the local levels. According to Ram Bhakta Adhikari, head of the Agriculture Development Office, farmers have been continuously reporting hail and water-related damages. Official letters have been sent to all eight local levels of the district regarding the damage caused by hail and flooding. So far, only two rural municipalities have submitted their reports.

Farmers in the affected areas are reportedly preparing to file complaints with local police stations, rural municipalities and the District Administration Office, requesting official inspections. As the hailstorm has impacted not only crops but also local livelihoods, police have been deployed to the affected regions.

Police sent for field inspection

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rabin Babu Regmi of the Jumla District Police Office informed that police had been deployed to the area after locals requested formal damage assessments. 

He said officers were sent from the Rarali Police Post to the affected sites. Previously, hailstorms had also caused crop damage in Patarasi, Chandannath, Guthichaur, Tatopani and Sinja areas of the district.