Desert locusts invade Gurugram, satellite city of India’s capital

Desert locusts on Saturday invaded Gurugram, a satellite city of India’s capital, New Delhi, prompting authorities to ask people to keep their windows shut and bang utensils to ward off the fast-spreading swarms.

Delhi's international airport, which borders Gurugram – home to some of the world's top corporations, has asked pilots to take extra precautions during takeoff and landing due to the locusts, local media reported.

Gurugram has never faced a locust attack before. Previous infestations have been mainly confined to some villages in the western state of Gujarat and Rajasthan in the northwest, which share a border with Pakistan's desert areas.

People posted pictures of the locusts on Twitter, with some criticising the government for not containing the outbreak.

India, which is battling its worst desert locust outbreak in decades, is using specialist vehicles and fire engines to spray insecticides in at least seven populous states in the north, centre and west of the country.

The locust infestation has not caused significant damage so far due to the lean season - the gap between the previous harvest and the next planting season - but farmers are worried about their summer crops.

(Source: Reuters)

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