Bhubaneswar, May 4 -- Persistent hailstorms, accompanied by high-velocity winds and lightning, have caused widespread destruction to standing rabi paddy crops across Odisha's Koraput district. Over the past three days, the inclement weather has severely impacted agricultural belts, leaving local farming communities in a state of deep concern.

The adverse conditions have targeted large swathes of fertile land, particularly within the Jeypore, Kundra, and Borigumma blocks.

According to The New Indian Express, the timing of the storms has proven particularly detrimental as the paddy crop is currently in its crucial flowering stage. Agricultural experts have noted that physical damage during this specific phase can severely inhibit grain fo...