Chhattisgarh reels from locust attack amid corona pandemic

After damaging crops in vast tracts in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, swarms of locusts were spotted in Chhattisgarh amid their worst invasion in years.

Raipur: Swarms of locusts were spotted in Jawaritola village of Koriya district, Chhattisgarh, moving into the state after attacking crops in neighbouring Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Farmers reached out to the Agriculture Department; local officials across various districts and villages have been put on alert and asked to remain prepared with chemicals in tractor-mounted sprayers, power sprayers and fire brigade.

Agricultural department have set up a control room to fight the attack of locusts wherein farmers can inform the government about their distress, sources said. Meanwhile, the state government is extending all possible help to agricultural workers so that the crops don't get damaged.

Locusts entered Rajasthan from Pakistan earlier in May. From Rajasthan, locust swarms also entered Madhya Pradesh over the past few days and then drifted into other parts of western India. Locusts reached Amravati (Maharashtra) and Mandla (Madhya Pradesh) from Rajasthan after which they diverted to Chhattisgarh, an official said.

Locust is a large, mainly tropical grasshopper, with strong powers of flight and it migrates in vast swarms which causes extensive damage to vegetation.