Unseasonal Rains: Over 80 Dead, Huge Damage to Crops, Orchards; AIKS Demands Ex-Gratia

New Delhi: Following unseasonal heavy rains and thunderstorms in several states killing at least 80 persons and livestock, and causing heavy damage to crops and orchards, the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) has demanded ex-gratia to the families of the deceased and adequate compensation to farmers.

In a press statement, the farmers’ organisation said “large-scale deaths due to thunderstorms and heavy rainfall have been reported from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and other states. At least 54 and 24 people died in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra respectively, with some deaths reported from Hisar in Haryana and Delhi-NCR as well.”

It said the deaths have been due to lightning strikes, accidental flooding, and collapse of trees, streetlights and even buildings.

“Around 55 animals, many of them livestock, were reported to have been killed by lightning in different districts of Maharashtra. Mango orchards in the Lucknow-Unnao belt are also reported to be severely damaged. Maharashtra has been rocked by completely unseasonal rains since the second week of May, and horticultural and late Rabi crops have suffered extensive damage across ten districts.”

Appealing to the Centre and state government to take stock of the damages and compensated the farmers and the affected families, the AIKS flagged of more possible damages as weather forecasts were predicting continued heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over the weekend across the country.

Read the full statement below:

Press Statement

More than 80 People Killed in Unseasonal Heavy Rainfall

Massive Damage to Crops and Orchards

AIKS Demands Adequate Ex-Gratia and Compensation to Victims

AIKS views the extreme weather situation developing around the country with grave concern. Large-scale deaths due to thunderstorms and heavy rainfall have been reported from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and other states. At least 54 and 24 people died in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra respectively, with some deaths reported from Hisar in Haryana and Delhi-NCR as well.

Deaths have been reported from lightning strikes, accidental flooding, and collapse of trees, streetlights and even buildings. Around 55 animals, many of them livestock, were reported to have been killed by lightning in different districts of Maharashtra. Mango orchards in the Lucknow-Unnao belt are also reported to be severely damaged. Maharashtra has been rocked by completely unseasonal rains since the second week of May, and horticultural and late Rabi crops have suffered extensive damage across ten districts.

Weather forecasts were predicting continued heavy rainfall and thunderstorms over the weekend across the country.

Extreme-weather events have become more common in India over the last few years. A 2023 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) had warned that the frequency of such short-duration disturbances, like thunderstorms, will increase in South Asia, leading to heavier rainfall. In urban areas, given that over the last century most of the natural water bodies like ponds and lakes have been lost, and replaced by unplanned construction, flooding has become a recurrent theme in the run up to the monsoon season. Despite these freak-incidents every year, governments are not acting sufficiently to develop flood-resistant infrastructure that protects the urban poor.

AIKS demands an adequate ex-gratia to the families of the deceased be released by the governments in the affected states. Adequate compensation must also be given to the farmers who have lost their standing crops, fruit orchards and livestock. These weather disturbances are a forewarning of further loss of life and property in the coming days if the governments, both at the level of state and Centre, do not act.

Sd/-

Ashok Dhawale, President

Vijoo Krishnan, General Secretary