Locust Attack

India has controlled the spread of crop-threatening migratory pest desert locusts by using advanced technologies, including drones, and ensured there was not much crop damage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to declare the locust attack a national disaster which will strengthen the capability of states to fight this menace.

Locust attacks are posing a serious threat to food security in parts of East Africa, India and Pakistan as a result of changing climate conditions that can be linked to human activity, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has said.

The Indian Air Force has indigenously modified two Mi-17 helicopters for atomised airborne spraying of pesticide to deal with locust attack, according to a statement issued by the IAF on Tuesday.

Swarms of locusts have invaded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Deoria, in the past 48 hours, attacking trees and crops, officials said Saturday, adding authorities are taking steps to either chase them away or kill them.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai today called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation following a locust attack in neighbouring city Gurgaon. The minister also directed the administration to be alert, an official said.

Virender Sehwag, former India cricketer, took to social media to post a video of swarms of locusts right above his house.

Thousands of crop-destroying desert locusts were seen in the sky in Gurugram today as residents rushed to shut their windows and doors to prevent the insects from entering their houses. Many residents made clanging noises by beating utensils to ward the insects off while other areas bellowed sirens from their buildings.

Swarms of crop-destroying desert locusts have reached the outskirts of Delhi after entering Gurugram this morning. Multiple videos shot by residents of Gurugram city and villages in the district this morning show massive clusters of locusts flying in.

Gurgaon residents must keep their windows shut as precaution against a possible attack from crop-destroying desert locusts, the city administration said on Friday as a swarm was sighted in an adjoining Haryana district.

A swarm of locusts attacked trees and crops in two villages in Charkhari area of Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba district on Saturday, officials said.

Pakistan refused to join a technical-level meeting with India to discuss the issue of locust menace, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, slamming Islamabad for showing "reticent attitude" even when its own people face a threat of food security.

Locusts flying in from Pakistan were spotted in parts of Gujarat's Banaskantha district, an official said on Thursday.

Swarms of locusts entered Prayagraj district in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and destroyed standing crops in the farms, prompting locals to burst firecrackers and play songs at high volume to drive them away.

The Central government has devised a plan to use drones and specialised imported machines against locusts which have started damaging crops in some states, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday.

India has controlled the spread of crop-threatening migratory pest desert locusts by using advanced technologies, including drones, and ensured there was not much crop damage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to declare the locust attack a national disaster which will strengthen the capability of states to fight this menace.

Locust attacks are posing a serious threat to food security in parts of East Africa, India and Pakistan as a result of changing climate conditions that can be linked to human activity, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has said.

The Indian Air Force has indigenously modified two Mi-17 helicopters for atomised airborne spraying of pesticide to deal with locust attack, according to a statement issued by the IAF on Tuesday.

Swarms of locusts have invaded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Deoria, in the past 48 hours, attacking trees and crops, officials said Saturday, adding authorities are taking steps to either chase them away or kill them.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai today called an emergency meeting to discuss the situation following a locust attack in neighbouring city Gurgaon. The minister also directed the administration to be alert, an official said.

Virender Sehwag, former India cricketer, took to social media to post a video of swarms of locusts right above his house.

Thousands of crop-destroying desert locusts were seen in the sky in Gurugram today as residents rushed to shut their windows and doors to prevent the insects from entering their houses. Many residents made clanging noises by beating utensils to ward the insects off while other areas bellowed sirens from their buildings.

Swarms of crop-destroying desert locusts have reached the outskirts of Delhi after entering Gurugram this morning. Multiple videos shot by residents of Gurugram city and villages in the district this morning show massive clusters of locusts flying in.

Gurgaon residents must keep their windows shut as precaution against a possible attack from crop-destroying desert locusts, the city administration said on Friday as a swarm was sighted in an adjoining Haryana district.

A swarm of locusts attacked trees and crops in two villages in Charkhari area of Uttar Pradesh's Mahoba district on Saturday, officials said.

Pakistan refused to join a technical-level meeting with India to discuss the issue of locust menace, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday, slamming Islamabad for showing "reticent attitude" even when its own people face a threat of food security.

Locusts flying in from Pakistan were spotted in parts of Gujarat's Banaskantha district, an official said on Thursday.

Swarms of locusts entered Prayagraj district in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday and destroyed standing crops in the farms, prompting locals to burst firecrackers and play songs at high volume to drive them away.

The Central government has devised a plan to use drones and specialised imported machines against locusts which have started damaging crops in some states, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday.