'About 28,000 farmers affected in Pune due to recent cyclone'

 About 28,000 farmers have been affected by cyclone 'Nisarga' in Maharashtra's Pune district, an official said on Saturday citing a preliminary assessment. cyclone had made landfall near Shrivardhan in coastal Raigad district, about 177 kms away from Pune, on Wednesday afteron bringing alone gusty winds and heavy rainfall, before moving in rth-east direction.

"Prima facie, 28,000 farmers and 371 vills were affected," said Pune collector Naval Kishore Ram. Though located in ghat areas in Pune district, vills that were affected by cyclone are geographically close to coastal Konkan region.

Earlier in day, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. and his cabinet colleague Dilip Walse Patil chaired a meeting with officials in Pune.