Damaged wheat crop after rains in Karad, Maharashtra. (Press Trust of India)
Unseasonal rains over the last two days have caused widespread crop damage across north and western India, raising concern in the states and in Parliament.
Maharashtra alone has suffered a loss of around Rs 1,000 crore. In Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, a farmer committed suicide. Another farmer died of a heart attack in Unnao.
As the meteorological department predicted the rainy spell would continue for another day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ordered a survey to gauge the exact extent of the damage.
Mr Yadav has reviewed the losses to the Rabi crop at some places in the state, an official spokesperson said. More than one-third of the country's wheat comes from Uttar Pradesh, which is also the largest producer of potatoes.
The local weathermen said the state has not seen rains in March in over 15 years.
In the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, members made a strong plea for grant of special packages to affected states.
Cutting across party lines, members wanted central teams to be rushed to the affected states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to assess the damage, so the affected farmers could be quickly compensated.