Mathura (UP), May 25 (PTI) Mathura administration has formed a task force to deal with any potential locust attack in the district, an official said on Monday.

The task force was constituted to keep a strict vigil on any movement of locusts in the area, Mathura DM Sarvagya Ram Mishra said.

Also Read | BJP to Hold Over 750 Virtual Rallies, 1000 Virtual Conference To Mark Completion of One Year of 2.0 PM Narendra Modi Government.

Chief Development Officer Nitin Gaur and officials from Agriculture department will be in the task force, he said.

The district magistrate said 200-litre Chloropyriphos has been kept as a reserve and its sellers in the area were advised not to supply the chemical outside the district.

Also Read | From Running Shramik Special Trains For Migrants to Opening Bookings For General Public; Here Are 5 Ways in Which Indian Railways is Giving Reprieve to People in COVID-19 Pandemic.

He said over a dozen tractors mounted with sprayers were kept on standby and fire brigade department asked to remain alert.

Arrangements have also been made by villagers for making noise by beating 'thalis' and bursting crackers to make the locusts move on, Mishra said.

The farmers have been advised to plough their fields as the insect prefers breeding in sandy soil, the DM added.

After crossing Pakistan, swarms of locusts entered India through Rajasthan on April 11. On Monday, locusts entered some residential areas of the Jaipur city.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)