Varanasi: The weather took a sudden turn in Varanasi on Friday, with drizzle and strong winds sweeping the city. Dark clouds gathered since morning, culminating in rain. The district is under an orange alert, with hailstorm warnings in western UP.Strong winds, clocking 50-60 kmph, hit Varanasi since Friday morning, disrupting daily life. Farmers are anxious about potential wheat crop damage, with fields in Rohaniya and Mohansarai getting drenched. Meanwhile, city residents got a welcome break from the heat as strong winds blew along with the rain. Since morning, drizzle continued across all areas, including Banaras Station, Shivpur, Sindhaura, Ramnagar, Cantt, Lanka, Assi, Manduadih, Maidagin and others.According to IMD, the maximum temperature was 30.2 degrees Celsius, while the minimum stood at 22.6 degrees Celsius. The relative humidity was 41% in the morning, which increased to 54% in the evening. Farmers whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rain can register claims under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana by calling 14447 within 72 hours, said the agriculture department.District agriculture officer Sangam Singh advised farmers facing issues with toll-free registration to submit written claims at the District Agriculture Office or deputy director of Agriculture’s office for insurance compensation.
