Summary:
Locusts have finally entered Maharashtra after attacking north India, causing serious concerns amongst farmers and the government machinery, as these insects survive only on crops and green vegetation. While the state agriculture department has already started monitoring the movements of the locust swarms, they have estimated that approximately eight crore locusts have entered different parts of Maharashtra – including Amravati, Nagpur, destroying crops and have probably reached Bhandara district, as on Wednesday. A team rushed to the spot and found that the insects were desert locusts, which were never seen in Maharashtra before. "We estimate that nearly eight crore locusts entered Maharashtra, of which smaller groups swarmed to different areas on May 24 night. The last we heard of locusts entering Maharashtra was almost 17 years ago.".