Bhopal, April 4 (NationPress) A sudden and intense weather shift brought on by a Western Disturbance wreaked havoc in multiple districts of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday, unleashing hailstones the size of lemons and chickpeas that blanketed roads in a thick white layer.

The impact was particularly severe in Gwalior city and nearby regions, where heavy rainfall was succeeded by two consecutive rounds of hailstorms in the afternoon.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that between 3:50 pm and 4:05 pm, hailstones measuring around 2.5 cm in diameter fell, marking an incredibly rare occurrence that broke a 50-year weather record for the area.

Prior to this, hailstones of 1.5 cm in diameter had fallen for roughly 10 minutes.

In total, six individuals, including two women, were injured across various locations in Gwalior due to the storm. A wall at a local private hospital collapsed amid the torrential rain, while numerous vehicles sustained damage. Streets throughout the city were covered in white, resembling a snowy landscape.

The unseasonal weather also impacted other districts. In the Lahar tehsil of Bhind district, strong winds accompanied light hail across numerous villages, although the city itself experienced only light rain.

In Multai tehsil of Betul district and surrounding areas, fierce winds, storms, and heavy hail transformed fields, courtyards, and roads into a white expanse.

Farmers reported total destruction of standing wheat, gram, and other crops, leaving them in despair.

Morena district experienced rainfall with hailstones comparable to chickpeas from the Kailaras to Kumheri regions.

In Barwani, unseasonal rains have jeopardized mature wheat crops, along with Dollar Gram and maize. Elevated moisture levels have raised concerns about spoilage and diminished yields.

Farmers in the affected areas are profoundly worried. Many had already harvested crops that now lie exposed in the fields, while standing crops have suffered immense damage.

The picturesque blanket of hail has transformed into a distressing sight for the agricultural community.

The Meteorological Department's Bhopal Centre has attributed the abrupt weather change to a Western Disturbance and has issued warnings for ongoing thunderstorms, lightning, and hail accompanied by strong winds.

“A hailstorm with lightning and winds reaching 70 km/h is anticipated over Bhind, Shivpuri, Kuno National Park, and East Sagar. Moderate thunderstorms with hail and winds up to 60 km/h are predicted in several other areas, including Morena, Gwalior, North Betul, and Damoh. Thunderstorms with lightning are also expected over Sheopur Kalan, East Raisen, Central Sagar, Central Betul, East Narmadapuram, Pachmarhi, West Jabalpur, Datia, Ratangarh, Nivari, Orchha, North Chhatarpur, Khajuraho, Seoni, Katni, Pandhurna, Pench, Central Chhindwada, Sehore, East Rajgarh, North Bhopal, Navibag, North Vidisha, South Dhar, South Indore, North Khargone, Maheshwar, and Central Khandwa during the night hours. These conditions are predicted to persist until April 5, with temperatures expected to decrease by 1 to 2 degrees,” stated senior weather scientist and director of the Bhopal IMD Centre, Ved Prakash Singh.

While the general populace has welcomed relief from the blistering summer heat, the agricultural sector remains anxious about substantial losses to the rabi crop.

Authorities are closely monitoring the situation as farmers evaluate the extent of the damage.