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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Kelly-Ann Mills

Thousands of locusts spotted zipping through residential area ravaging homes and crops

A swarm of locusts have been filmed ravaging homes and crops in a residential area of India.

Thousands of the locusts can be seen flying among buildings, as terrified residents lock themselves inside.

Akanksha Badaya, who witnessed the spectacular scene, said many of the flying insects had also forced their way through doors and windows in the city of Jaipur.

She said: "They enter through small gaps and make their way to our kitchens and bedrooms.

"It's non-stop cleaning for us. I hope they will soon leave."

Insecticide has been sprayed on crops to stop the locusts' path of demolition (NurPhoto/PA Images)

An earlier video showed the bugs turning the sky black as the locusts took over every available space.

A man, who filmed the insects, can be heard behind the camera: “There are billions and trillions.

Jaipur was badly affected by the swarm (NurPhoto/PA Images)

“There are uncountable numbers of locusts flying in the sky, this is something I have never ever seen in my life."

Desert locusts can travel up to 150km per day eating up every bit of greenery in their path.

The swarms have been invading the country since April, leaving a trail of crop damage as they ravaged fields.

The recent locust attack is believed to be the worst in decades.

KL Gurjar, the deputy director of India’s Locust Warning Organisation, said the recent swarms comprised of "young locusts who fly for longer distances".

Trilochan Mohapatra, director general of the state-run Indian Council of Agricultural Research in New Delhi, said 700 tractors, 75 fire engines, drones and almost 50 other vehicles are spraying pesticides to kill the locusts.

"At this point it's manageable, but if it continues it will be a problem", he said.

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