HYDERABAD: Swarms of locusts suddenly appeared in Hyderabad and spread across all four talukas on Friday morning. People in the City taluka saw them clinging in large numbers on Latifabad-Hyderabad flyover, rooftops of plazas, overhead water storage tanks and many other places.

Large swarms were seen also seen moving from one area to the other.

The general impression was that a huge swarm was passing through Hyderabad district to reach its ultimate destination — rural areas and farmlands on the outskirts and further ahead.

“I have seen them attacking trees and devouring green leaves,” said a resident of Latifabad taluka.

Sindh Chamber of Agriculture’s (SCA) Zahid Bhurgari was of the view that locusts would stay in Hyderabad till the evening. However, he added, they could devour green patches everywhere along their route.

Sindh Abadgar Board (SAB) vice president Mahmood Nawaz Shah, who is a resident of Latifabad, said that larger swarms of locusts indeed were seen in the city today. He said it looked as if they were in moving phase and would not be staying here.

He said experts should come forward with their opinion on this phenomenon. He said that most swarms had passed through the city although at some places they were seen on trees.

Locusts attacks are being reported from upper Sindh districts over the last few weeks. Farmers’ organisations have been expressing their serious concern over the repeated locust attacks.

SCA president Miran Mohammad Shah has recently written a detailed letter to the prime minister seeking his intervention to address the issue, pointing out that it would prove dangerous for the forthcoming cotton crop.

He urged the prime minister to take steps and provide aircraft to Sindh for aerial spray in order to eliminate the swarms.

Published in Dawn, May 9th, 2020