Chandigarh: High-velocity gusts of wind and hailstorms have flattened wheat crop over in Haryana and Punjab with Bathinda district being the worst hit, officials said on Saturday.
Dr Kulwinder Kaur, Scientist, Meteorological Department, Punjab Agricultural University, said that it was light rain so no harm to crop infield but the moisture content in the wheat in mandis can increase.
"This was the first rainfall in April and 4.5mm of rainfall was recorded in Ludhiana, while in March this year it received more rainfall than usual," Dr Kaur said.
"The Western Disturbance had been very heavy and it was likely to rain again April 21-22," she added.
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"Huge damage in a few isolated pockets. Worst-affected is the Malout subdivision, Special Chief Secretary K.B.S. Sidhu, who is heading state's Disaster Management Department, informed in a tweet.
"The Deputy Commissioner (Bathinda) has instructed the field revenue machinery to estimate damage expeditiously," he added.
Chandigarh and its surrounding areas were lashed by moderate early Saturday, accompanied by strong winds.
The stormy weather also hit standing crops in many parts of both agrarian states, officials said.
"The wheat crop has been flattened by the rain and strong winds. If the wet spells continue the damage to the standing and harvested crop could be higher, Shamsher Singh, a farmer near Punjab's Khanna town, 50 km from Chandigarh," told media.
Government agencies and private traders in Punjab procured 1,48,221 metric tonnes of wheat in Punjab on the third day of procurement till Friday.
Haryana's Karnal-based farmer Ramesh Chaudhary said the wheat crop could be damaged if the rains continued for two to three days.
(With input from IANS)
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