AGRA: More than 400 farmers were directly affected in eight different villages of UP as sparks from overhead electric cables resulted in burning of standing wheat crops.
The incident occurred in the villages of Khair and Koil blocks of Aligarh district earlier this week but reports are now trickling out. Billowing clouds of thick dark smoke were visible from miles away. Around a dozen fire tenders were pressed into service.
District magistrate (DM) Selva Kumari J said, "Revenue department teams have been directed to do assessment of crop loss. Suitable compensation will be provided."
An affected farmer from Sujanpura, Pushpendra Singh, said, "Sparks from damaged part of an overhead high-tension wire resulted in the fire which rapidly spread in the fields. My family's entire wheat crop in 20-bigha land has been destroyed. Hundreds of other farmers in the area are also affected. We request the state government to support us."
On Saturday, SDM (Khair) KB Singh said, "Fire incidents in the fields were reported in six different villages. The exact reasons will be found out in the next two days."
SDM (Koil) Sanjeev Ojha said, "Standing wheat crops of farmers across over 15 hectares of land were destroyed. We will ensure the farmers are compensated as per the government norms in a time-bound manner."
