Man killed in banquet wall collapse during storm

Bijnor: A 35-year-old man died after a wall of a banquet hall collapsed during gusty winds and heavy rain in Bijnor on Thursday evening. Mohammad Fariyad, a resident of Rahatpur Khurd, was near the structure when its wall and tin roof gave way. Strong winds uprooted structures and damaged buildings in several localities.The storm also hit farmers, with mango orchards suffering losses. Many trees lost fruit due to strong winds and rainfall, raising concerns over the financial impact.Mango trees in Amroha and neighbouring Bijnor were affected by strong winds followed by drizzle. Orchard owners said that fruits fell from trees. Farmers added unfavourable climatic conditions had already affected fruit growth this year.Orchard owner Khilendra Singh Kakran said, “Continuous weather fluctuations have impacted the crop, raising concerns over a decline in production. Lower yield could push up mango fruit prices.”Another grower, Mohammad Yunus, said adequate fruit quantity is important to maintain quality, and fewer fruits on trees could affect quality as well.In Bijnor district, mango groves are spread over 13,310 hectares across Mandawar, Kiratpur, Bijnor and Najibabad. The district grows varieties such as Daseri, Chausa, Langda, Ratole and Bombay Green. Mangoes from Bijnor are supplied to Delhi, Uttarakhand, Mumbai, Kolkata and Jaipur. Production in the district is over 1.5 lakh metric tonnes.In Amroha, mango cultivation covers 18,000–20,000 hectares, with an annual production of around 3.5–4 lakh metric tonnes. Common varieties include Daseri, Langra and Chausa.Agriculture scientist Dr KK Singh of Nagina research centre said inclement weather can lead to crop loss, adding that it is too early to assess the overall damage.