Sudden hailstorm at Coonoor
A pall of gloom hangs over Nonsuch estate near Coonoor following a sudden hailstorm on 14.04.2007 night causing unprecedented damage to some of its tea gardens.The storm had started around 7.45 p.m. and lasted nearly two hours.The magnitude of the loss could be gauged only after dawn.Local people who spoke at Nonsuch on 15.04.2007 said that it was the first time the area had experienced such a severe hailstorm.The stones, many of which resembled marbles of standard size, had not melted till 15.04.2007 afternoon, notwithstanding the scorching heat during the day.
Stating that he had not anticipated such devastation, the Manager, Nonsuch Estate, H.S.Mehta, said that about 105 hectares in two divisions of the estate had been hit.The estimated loss was around Rs. 30 lakh.Pointing out that the yield in the divisions had just reached the peak, he added that the storm was so intense that the pellets of frozen rain had halved not only the tender leaves but also the mother leaves.It would take about two months for the tea bushes to recover.Fortunately the storm had occurred in the night.A few birds were also found dead near the tea bushes.The storm snapped power supply to a few houses.Stating that he had been in the area for about 52 years, a worker, Mookaiyan, said that it was new phenomenon.If it had occurred during working hours, many were likely to have been hurt by falling hailstones.
Another worker lamented that the hailstorm had played spoilsport with their earnings.By way of plucking and other incentives, each worker was looking forward to earning about Rs. 5,000 over the next two months.Pointing out that the storm had taken everyone by surprise, Mr.Mehta said that to ensure that the workers were not affected by such natural calamities, suitable shelters would be put up at appropriate places.Meanwhile official sources said that many parts of the Nilgiris experienced good rain on 14.04.2007 night.
