Palghar: Heavy rain during the first and third weeks of July damaged crops on 1,205.4 hectares in Palghar district, affecting 4,636 farmers across 349 villages, according to a preliminary report by the agriculture department.Heavy rain that lashed the district between July 1 and 8, and again from July 22 to 24, claimed 23 lives and inundated 15,802 houses. The torrential rain also caused extensive damage to the district’s agricultural sector.Paddy was the worst-hit crop as prolonged waterlogging damaged the seedlings. Fruit crops, including banana, chikoo and mango, as well as vegetables, also suffered losses.The worst-hit talukas were Vasai, Palghar, Dahanu and Talasari, while Mokhada, Vikramgad and Jawhar reported comparatively lower losses.The crop losses came on top of the Rs 180 crore damage to public and private property caused by the July deluge, leaving many farmers under financial stress.District agriculture superintendent Nilesh Bhageshwar said the figures were preliminary and were likely to increase as panchnamas were still underway. The final report is expected to be ready in the next two to three days.
