May 21: A devastating hailstorm that struck Khaptad Chededaha rural municipality in Bajura district last Wednesday afternoon severely damaged food crops, vegetables, and fruits.

Wheat, barley, vegetables, potatoes, onions, garlic, and various fruits have all fallen victim to the hail, according to Bhimla Budha from Budhabada in ward no. 7 of the rural municipality.

Farmers in ward no. 6 and 7 have been particularly hard-hit by the calamity. Birkh Oli, a farmer, voiced the concerns of the affected farmers, emphasizing the need for compensation rather than mere relief support.

However, the local government and the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Bajura have yet to take any concrete steps to assess and document the extent of the damage, leading to complaints from the affected farmers.

Gauri Oli, another farmer, lamented the lack of interest shown by the rural municipality in collecting information about the damage, despite approximately 905 families being affected by the hailstorm. This has left farmers anxious about the possibility of receiving compensation for their losses.

A preliminary assessments conducted by the ward office indicate that the damage caused by the hailstorm exceeds 20 million rupees.