Locust swarms have been wreaking havoc on Indian farmlands. Given the destruction caused by these crop hungry grasshoppers, several states in the northern part of the country have been put under high alert. After destroying croplands in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, these flying predators are on the way to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh.
#WATCH: Swarms of locusts reach Prayagraj. The locals clanged utensils and played loud music to scare the locusts away. pic.twitter.com/lEmtGZXeB5
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) June 11, 2020
According to News18, Prayagraj has become the latest victim of locusts attack. Several visuals shared online show swarms of locusts invading villages in the Koraon and Meja areas. Sources reveal that the swarm is around three km wide and one-kilometre long.
Take a look at the visuals:
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, under huge locust swarm attack .. locals make frenzied efforts to ward off the voracious vermintide. pic.twitter.com/Yn1fRkOv2w
— R G P (@RamchandaniGP) June 11, 2020
@dmfatehpur sir what is our plan to get rid of this as locust already reach Prayagraj..
Vedio credit-ani pic.twitter.com/MAOf6ZYKtb— Gurudeen Singh (@youngIndia91) June 11, 2020
Locust attack in Prayagraj pic.twitter.com/OrJRdpst8S
— CS Ayush Sinha (@simpleyetmodern) June 11, 2020
Woke up to locust swarm in the sky.The morning was a lot more exciting than usual. #Locustsattack #allahabad #prayagraj #locustsinprayagraj pic.twitter.com/JRoLi0tggz
— Rina Misra (@RinaMisra5) June 11, 2020
Today locust attacked my city prayagraj @1SH4N @PrayagrajWale @AgentSaffron @rishibagree @ippatel @ishkarnBHANDARI pic.twitter.com/bHL4baERU4
— Agniveer Hum Bhi Dekhenge! (@torchbearer123) June 11, 2020
Locust attack in Prayagraj District@anjanaomkashyap @SwetaSinghAT @sardanarohit @aajtak pic.twitter.com/v5FjgIpr8t
— #AshutoshMittal (@icaashu) June 11, 2020
However, the authorities were quick to sense a threat and started spraying chemicals across the fields. Reports indicate that the insects arrived in Prayagraj from the Mirzapur district. Rama Shankar, Block Development Officer (BDO) of the area said:
“We pressed three fire tenders into service and have roped in additional vehicles, courtesy local residents, to spray chemicals in fields. Most of the locusts have flown away.”
These short-horned grasshoppers have passed through farmlands in villages like Dharwara, Tala, Hathsara and Lohandi among others.
#WATCH Rajasthan: Swarms of locusts continue to create menace in different parts of the state , visuals from Kota. pic.twitter.com/hRaMBmCQLM
— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2020
Chief Development Officer (Prayagraj) Ashish Kumar said, “District officials, village heads and block-level teams had been trained and briefed about what they had to do in case of a probable attack by locusts.”
“As no major crops have yet been planted, no major damage has been reported barring a few patches of vegetable crops.”
“We are keeping a watch on the situation and have a buffer stock of chemicals. All neighbouring districts have also been alerted.”
Earlier, people were seen resorting to desi jugaad and creating loud noises to ward of these insects. We hope the authorities are able to shoo these insects away from the farms ASAP.