Widespread pre-monsoon showers have swept across Maharashtra, particularly in Marathwada and Vidarbha, bringing heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.
While the rain has provided a much-needed break from the intense summer heat, it has also caused significant damage in rural areas—ruining crops, displacing livestock, and flooding agricultural fields.
The situation is particularly dire in Beed, where four consecutive days of rain have severely affected farming in Kutevadi village. Around 25 acres of onion crop—much of it harvest-ready—have been damaged, along with summer jowar. Farmers are demanding immediate surveys and compensation from the state government, fearing a total loss of seasonal income.
A tragic incident occurred in Hingoli’s Sengao taluka, where lightning struck and killed seven goats in Gugul Pimpri village. The animals belonged to a local farmer who was returning home during heavy rainfall when the lightning hit, causing significant financial loss. Locals have appealed to authorities for urgent compensation.
In Washim, emotions ran high as a young farmer, Gaurav Pawar, watched his entire groundnut produce get washed away in front of him. He had brought the crop to the Manora Agriculture Market Committee for sale when a sudden downpour destroyed it.
In Washim, farmer Gaurav Pawar watched helplessly as sudden rain washed away his entire groundnut crop at the Manora market. (Screengrab from viral video)
A video capturing his despair went viral, drawing the attention of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. From Delhi, he contacted local officials and ordered immediate relief. The APMC has since assured compensation to Pawar.
In Nanded, unseasonal rains continued for a second consecutive day. Heavy showers on Friday (May 16) night inundated low-lying areas of the city, followed by another intense spell on Saturday. The civic infrastructure struggled to cope, with waterlogging highlighting deficiencies in drainage systems.
Parbhani also experienced strong thunderstorms, lightning, and high winds. Sudden rainfall across Parbhani city, Manwat, Gangakhed, and Purna talukas brought a drop in temperature, but also waterlogged farms, causing concern among local farmers. While residents enjoyed the cooler weather, cultivators were left assessing damage to crops ready for harvest.
While urban regions enjoy temporary relief from heat, rural areas, particularly farmers, suffer the consequences of increasingly erratic weather patterns.
