Record heat in May has severely affected vegetable cultivation on the dry riverbeds of the Hirakud reservoir in Jharsuguda district. Over 20,000 acres of land used for farming are facing a crisis as soil moisture levels drop due to temperatures crossing 46 degrees Celsius. Farmers, who previously produced nearly 80,000 tons of vegetables annually without irrigation, are now struggling to save their crops by digging ring wells. Agricultural scientists warn that the moisture level has dipped to 25cm deep, signaling a potential water crisis and decline in biodiversity. https://sambad.in/state/impact-of-mays-record-heat-11864378 #creator program