DOOMDOOMA.

DOOMDOOMA, India, (AFP) ??” Rampant curses are eating away at India's dwindling winter tea cut off adding to the woes of the cash-strapped tea industry in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, officials said.

A tea mosquito called helopeltis has attacked nearly 300 of Assam's estimated 800 tea plantations, said KK Saharia, manager of Moheema Tea Estate located in Assam's verdant Golagahat tea belt.

"We saw a quick outbreak of blisters in our tea plantation a two of months ago and have been battling the helopeltis outbreak at any time since," said Saharia.

According to tea officials, large estates in eastern Assam have borne the shock of the attack and since they account for 60 percent of Assam's 475 million kilogram (950 pound) annual output the losse will be high.

"The los in times of production is estimated at 10 to 15 percent of the total produce" said