Maharashtra grape farmers suffering crop damage due to heavy rains and hailstorms have been protesting at the government's apparent apathy toward their losses.

According to a report in The Hindu.com, farmers took to the streets on Saturday to demand compensation for grape crops destroyed by bad weather.

Unseasonal downpours have hit one of India's leading grape-growing regions over the last few days, which was particularly harsh in the northern and western parts of the state.

The inclement weather has severely damaged grape crops, frozen some of the fruit as well as ravaging other crops including onions, chili peppers and pomegranates, according to Indian national press.

The Hindu.com reports how hundreds of farmers from North Maharashtra blocked the Mumbai-Agra highway for several hours, strewing cartons of grapes that had been frozen and damaged by hail.

Many of the angry farmers accuse the government of being unresponsive and apathetic towards the damage to crops and financial losses incurred as a result.

Others have been demanding compensation during protests in the Nashik district where a reported 20,000 hectares of cash crops have been badly damaged.

Various regions have been battered by persistent and heavy rains for several days now and weather forecasts predict more rain and hail to come throughout December and into the New Year.

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