NEW DELHI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The western Indian state of Rajasthan is witnessing a locust outbreak, officials said Tuesday.
"Locust control organization and district authorities are making all efforts to control the further movement of locusts," an official with the agriculture department said. "The outbreak of desert locusts has posed a threat to the crops in the area."
Reports said swarms of locusts were detected in several villages of the affected areas of the state.
The federal agriculture ministry's Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), headquartered in Jodhpur, has launched efforts to control the locusts.
"Our teams carrying equipment have been rushed to the villages to spray high-intensity insecticide to contain its outbreak and prevent it from spreading further," the official said. "Apart from this, a warning had been issued to residents to keep an eye on the incoming swarms."
According to agriculture department officials, locusts were targeting wild trees and plants.
Previously in 2005 and 2010, similar attacks were witnessed in the state.
