Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Mar 10 (UNI) As many as 14 people have died and eight others injured while standing crops worth Rs nine crore have been destroyed on 25,000 hectares of land in Marathwada in the past eight days due to unseasonal rains in Central Maharashtra.

Talking to reporters Deputy Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Dileep Shinde said of the 14 deaths, nine were recorded yesterday, eight being victims of lightening and one died in wall collapse.

Of the eight injured people, two were injured in Nanded district on March 8 followed by three each in Beed and Osmanabad yesterday, Mr Shinde said.

''This was the worst ever tragedy caused by hailstorm in the region, recorded for the month of March,'' Mr Shinde said adding a survey of the damaged crops was in progress even as the hailstorm continued in the region.

Of the 14 deaths, Parbhani has reported highest of four deaths followed by Aurangabad three, Beed and Osmanabad two each and Jalna, Hingoli and Nanded one each.

Mr Shinde further said that standing crops, mainly of wheat, jowar, mango and onions, have badly suffered in the region due to hailstorm.

Meanwhile, Jalna district yesterday received highest rainfall of 30.2 mm followed by Beed 25.6 mm, Parbhani 23.6 mm, Hingoli 20.1 mm, Aurangabad 19.1 mm, Osmanabad 14.2 mm and Latur 8 mm.

Shengaon tehsil of Hingoli district recorded a heavy rainfall of 74.1 mm yesterday.

UNI MPJ KU KD AK BS1935