MITHI: Locust swarms have arrived in different areas of Nagarparkar taluka posing a serious threat to whatever farm produce is being grown in the area.

Residents of different areas of the taluka, including Javed Samoon, Riaz Rajar and Mohammad Wassan, told this reporter on Friday that locusts in large numbers were seen eating leaves of big trees as well as plants.

They were of the view that locusts could cause heavy damage to the plants and small crops that had grown after the recent widespread rains in the region. `Locust swarms had first arrived in our area some three weeks back but in a small number.

They have increased to an alarmingly bigger number over the past few days,` they said.

The insect was devouring green trees and bushes in these areas,theysaid.

They apprehended that their presence in the area was a serious threat to the crops to be cultivated soon after the expected rains. `If proper measures are not taken by the federal or Sindh government at the earliest, the swarms could ravage our crops,` they said.

Last month, agriculture experts had warned that locusts might travel to Thar desert in the event of rainfall here. The warning was issued after swarms of locust were spotted in the desert region of Khairpur district.

Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner Dr Shahzad Tahir Thaheem, in the wake of the warning, had set up a cell to meet any emergency.

Despite the repeated attempts, no official of the departments concerned could be reached by phone to comment on the arrivaloflocustsin the Tharregion.