India, April 6 -- Unseasonal rain and hailstorms since mid-March have damaged standing rabi crops across more than 512,000 acres in Maharashtra, dealing another blow to the state's already strained agricultural economy and potentially adding a significant compensation burden on the exchequer.

According to preliminary estimates from the state agriculture department as of April 4, crops on 5,12,087 acres (2,04,835 hectares) have been affected across 29 districts. The damage was reported in two phases; in March, crops over 3,07,492 acres (1,22,997 hectares) were hit, while fresh spells of rain in the first week of April damaged crops across 2,05,940 acres (82,376 hectares).

A wide range of crops have been affected, including banana, wheat,...