Sundargarh: The Nor’wester rain accompanied by gusty surface wind at a speed of 50-60kmph and heavy to heavy rainfall turned into a nightmare for Kendu leaf pluckers in parts of this district.
The unseasonal rain and the hailstorm destroyed Kendu leaf plantations in Khatugaon range in Bonai area. This caused heavy loss to the leaf pluckers.
Adding to their woes were the attacks on plantations from insects and pests. “First we suffered loss due to the hailstorm and rain. Then there were the insects and pests. What shall we do now? We are left in the lurch as the administration is not ready to provide us with some compensation,” a woman plucker said.
“We will have to face heavy loss this year. Due to the extreme heat, the leaves were already damaged. Whatever little was left is no destroyed in the rain and hail storm,” another plucker said.
“We were expecting a bumper harvest this season but the Nor’wester-triggered rain and insects have completely damaged the leaves,” another plucker said.
