A severe hailstorm accompanied by heavy rain has left farmers in the West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya reeling, destroying their year-long efforts in an instant. The hailstorm, which occurred on Tuesday evening, damaged paddy crops on a large scale, affecting villages such as Mustem, Muplang, Moosakhia, Samanong, and adjoining areas where the harvest season had just begun.

According to village headmen, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Thadlaskeiñ C&RD Block has been informed about the situation. However, assessing the extent of damage and losses will have to wait until Wednesday after a thorough survey of the affected areas.

The affected families are urging the government to provide necessary assistance as soon as possible. This devastating event highlights the vulnerability of farmers to natural disasters, which can have a significant impact on their livelihoods.

In similar cases, natural disasters have caused significant losses to farmers worldwide. For instance, in 2023, 28 weather disasters in the US resulted in over $21 billion in crop losses. Such events underscore the importance of timely support and disaster relief programs for farmers.

The Meghalaya government’s prompt response to this crisis will be crucial in mitigating the suffering of the affected families and helping them recover from this devastating event.