Lucknow: Drawing the attention of chief minister Yogi Adityanath towards the problems being faced by famers due to unseasonal rain and hailstorm, state Congress president Ajay Rai on Monday urged state govt to initiate a time-bound survey within 48 hours to assess crop and human losses and provide interim relief to affected farmers. In a letter to the CM, he demanded enhanced compensation for crop damage, Rs 5 lakh assistance to families of those killed by lightning, and accountability for delays in relief distribution. “Unseasonal spell of rain and hailstorm over the past fortnight has led to largescale crop damage. Farmers from across all regions have reported widespread devastation. Standing crops, including wheat, mustard, pulses, vegetables and fruits, have suffered heavy losses, with damage estimates ranging from 10% to as high as 70% in several districts. In some areas, crops have reportedly been completely destroyed,” Rai said. He also flagged the incidents of deaths and serious injuries due to lightning strikes, along with disruptions in power supply and transport services, indicating a broader impact on rural life and local economy. Rai accused the insurance companies of evading payouts to farmers under the crop insurance scheme by rejecting claims on technical grounds.
