New Delhi: Following the locust attack in Gurugram on Saturday morning, the Delhi government has put all the districts on high alert to deal with possibility of attack in the national capital.
Delhi's environment minister Gopal Rai chaired an emergency meeting to discuss the possible attack of locusts in the capital. He asked the officials of the agriculture department, development secretary, divisional commissioners and district magistrates to remain on high alert.
The officials of the agriculture department were also asked to make field visits to areas adjoining Gurugram.
According to the advisory issued by the Delhi agriculture department, people should keep their doors and windows closed and cover outdoor plants with plastic sheets. People can distract the locusts by making high decibel sound through beating of drum, utensils, playing high volume music, bursting crackers, and burning Neem leaves.
The district magistrates have also been advised to deploy adequate staff to make villagers and residents aware of these measures.
“Swarms of locusts usually fly in daytime and rest during night. Therefore, they should not be allowed to rest during night time,” the advisory read. “Night spray of melathion or chloropyriphos is useful. PPE kits may be used while spraying for safety,” it further read.
Meanwhile, IGI airport has been kept on high alert due to the arrival of locust swarms.
Earlier, swarms of locusts invaded the skies of Gurugram on Saturday morning, however, there were no reports of damage to crops.
Alarmed by the attack, the locals have posted videos on social media showing residential complexes covered by the swarms of locusts turning the sky dark.
According to an official of the agriculture department in Gurugram, the swarm of locusts passed over the district without causing any damage to crops. The size of swarms was about 5 kilometers wide and 8 kilometers long.
Before coming to Gurugram, the swarms of locusts were divided into four parts, two parts of which passed over Gurugram towards Delhi and one part went towards districts Nuh and Jhajjar. But due to change in wind direction, those who flocked towards Delhi and Jhajjar also went towards Faridabad and Nuh district.
