COMPENSATION SOUGHT FOR DAMAGED CROPS Kathmandu, 26 May:: A group of farmers from several villages of Surkhet have demanded compensation for the crops destroyed by hailstorm about a month ago. A hailstorm on April 20 had damaged crops in several villages of the district and the farmers had reached the District Administration Office, Surkhet demanding compensation, Khalendra Sejuwal writes in Republica from Surkhet.. “We have visited the DAO seeking compensation a number of times. But the authorities have turned a deaf ear,” said Til Bahadur Rana, a local from Awalaching VDC of the district. He said the hailstorm destroyed crops worth Rs 50 million in Awalaching, Dadakhali, Garpan, Ratu, Gadi, Pamka, Ranibas, Matela, Ghorete, and Kapalkot VDCs of the district. According to the District Agriculture Development Office, Surkhet, the hailstorm damaged crops worth Rs 11 million in Dadakhali, Rs 4.369 million in Awalaching, Rs 3.593 million in Garpan, Rs 3.695 in Ratuma, Rs 3.752 million in Gadi, and Rs 9.95 million in Pamka VDC. Another victim from Ratuki VDC Laxmi Gyawali said the hailstorm damaged her crops completely. “The crops were ready for harvest but the hailstorm destroyed everything,” said Gyawali. nnnn