SRINAGAR: A powerful hailstorm transformed a village in Karnataka into a snow-like landscape reminiscent of the Kashmir Valley, even as the extreme weather event caused widespread damage to crops and property.
Machapur village in Kalagatagi area of Dharwad district was blanketed under a thick layer of hail on Tuesday after an intense storm lashed the region for over two hours. Visuals from the village showed roads, fields and rooftops covered in white, drawing comparisons from residents to scenes typically associated with Kashmir’s snow-covered terrain.
Locals stepped out to capture the rare spectacle on their mobile phones, describing the landscape as akin to a “mini Kashmir.” However, the picturesque aftermath masked significant losses suffered by the farming community.
A large quantity of tomato crop ready for harvesting was destroyed, while horticulture produce and young saplings sustained heavy damage. Several plant nurseries were also badly hit. In addition, houses with tiled roofs reported structural damage due to the continuous hail impact.
“Many crops have suffered heavy losses due to the excessive hailstorm. We have informed the agriculture department and shared video evidence of the event,” a local resident said.
Meteorologists attributed the phenomenon to intense pre-monsoon activity. According to CS Patil, Director of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bengaluru, the hailstorm was triggered by strong local convection.
He explained that a combination of high temperatures, moisture, wind speed and atmospheric instability led to the formation of deep convective clouds. A north-south trough and wind discontinuity over North Interior Karnataka further intensified the system, resulting in prolonged hailfall.
Residents said the storm lasted for more than two hours, accompanied by unusually high lightning activity. “We have not witnessed anything like this before. The roads had turned completely white, just like snowfall in Kashmir, and many houses with tiled roofs have been damaged,” another villager said.
While such hailstorms are considered normal during the pre-monsoon period, the scale and intensity of this event have raised concerns among farmers already facing weather-related uncertainties.
