Beed, February 24 Unseasonal rains and strong winds have caused widespread damage to standing crops and orchards in several parts of Beed district in Maharashtra over the past 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.
The tehsils of Parli and Ambajogai experienced sudden rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds on Monday, which resulted in the destruction of jowar, wheat, and gram crops that were ready for harvest, officials stated.
Mango and watermelon orchards were also affected, they added.
Taking the situation seriously, Parli MLA Dhananjay Munde has directed Collector Vivek Johnson to immediately conduct damage assessments (panchnamas) and submit a report of losses to the government.
The ready-to-harvest crops have been destroyed, causing distress to farmers, he said.
Several villages in the Parli and Ambajogai tehsils have been affected.