How do I get a warning before a hailstorm and reduce hail damage?

Exact hail at one village cannot be predicted far ahead, but IMD does issue thunderstorm and hail warnings a day or two before, so watch those and act on the produce you can protect. Hail forms inside strong thunderstorms, so when the forecast or a nowcast warns of severe thunderstorm with hail for your district, take what steps you can. If a crop is mature or nearly so and a hail warning is out, advance the harvest and move the produce under cover. Keep stored produce, machinery and animals under a strong roof. You cannot stop hail hitting a standing field, but you can avoid losing already cut produce. Anti hail nets protect high value orchards and nurseries but are costly, so they suit grapes, vegetables or fruit, not field crops. The Mausam app and IMD nowcast give short range thunderstorm and hail alerts, and the Damini app warns of lightning in the same storms. After hail, report damage to your insurer and the revenue or agriculture office quickly so a survey can be done, as crop insurance often covers localised hail if reported in time.