Image Source: TIMES NOW

Swarms of locusts that entered India from Pakistan have found their way to several states of the country. On Monday, the locust swarms attacked crops in both, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. It is being suspected that the national capital is the next target of the pests. The other states affected by the attacks are- Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. In view of the threat, Delhi has been kept on high alert.

Entomologists said that the swarm attack in Delhi can be severe as 22 per cent of its area is green cover. KL Gurjar, LWO deputy director said that if the wind speed is favourable, the locusts might move to Delhi. On Wednesday, the wind speed moved the locusts north. Due to the threat, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been asked to record meteorological conditions so that the agricultural ministry can access the movement of the insects. Kuldeep Srivastava, a scientist working at IMD and head of Regional Weather Forecasting Centre in Delhi told "Wind direction is favourable at the moment, largely remaining northwesterly. " Mohammad Faisal, an entomologist at Yamuna Biodiversity Park said that locusts moved away after the winters as there was a shortage of food. They moved to Jaipur as it has green cover, which can provide food for them.

Faisal said that if the locusts enter Delhi, they can cause severe damage to its green cover. According to Faisal, one square kilometre locust swarm can eat the same amount of food that can be used to feed 35,000 people.