Manipur, Sept. 29 -- The villagers have sought the intervention of the department concerned to control the invasion and destruction of their crops.

In their fight against locust attack, villagers of Khambi (Khengva) village in Kamjong district of Manipur are spending sleepless nights, handpicking the invading swarm of pests in their paddy fields.

Located on the southern side of Kamjong district, Khambi village has around 72 households. Ninety per cent of the total population depends on jhum cultivation as the main occupation for their livelihood. However, the alarming locust invaion in the fields has sparked off fear among the villagers. They doubt they would reap the fruit of their labour this year.

Stone Hungyo, a villager, said 90 p...