Raiganj, Nov. 11 -- A sudden hailstorm accompanied by heavy showers lashed Raiganj and Itahar Police Station areas of North Dinajpur district on Wednesday afternoon for a certain period, causing concern among farmers and hardship for Kali Puja organisers and visitors.
Several Kali Puja pandals set up by different clubs in the affected areas were waterlogged following the sudden downpour causing inconvenience to visitors. The hailstorm and rainfall also reportedly affected large stretches of ripening paddy fields in Raiganj block, raising fears of substantial agricultural losses. Farmers apprehend that the untimely weather may adversely affect their crops and expected yield.
Meanwhile, the Raiganj block administration has started assessing the extent of damage in the affected villages. Officials have been directed to visit the areas and identify the affected agricultural land.
Raiganj BDO Subrata Ghosh said: "The hailstorm and rainfall may have affected paddy fields. Our officials are visiting villages to assess the extent of damage suffered by farmers."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.