High-speed winds, rain lodge wheat crop in Punjab
SANGRUR/BATHINDA/GURDASPUR: High-velocity winds and rain damaged standing crops in parts of Punjab in the past 24 hours, officials said here on Friday.
Wheat crop, which is harvested in mid-april, has been flattened in many areas of the state. Farmers are worried as the meteorological department has predicted more rains in the coming days. The state government is expecting arrival of 180 lakh tonnes of wheat in grain markets this season. Gurdaspur received 30.2mm of rainfall followed by Bathinda 27.5mm, Faridkot 19.4mm, Pathankot 17mm, Amritsar 16.2mm and Patiala 5mm on Friday.
Sangrur chief agriculture officer Jaswinderpal Singh said crops in some parts of the district have been damaged due to heavy rain. He said the assessment of crop damage will be done soon. “The majority of the area is under wheat crop in Lehragaga block, but other crops have been damaged,” he said.
Director of agro-meteorological centre of regional research station, Punjab Agricultural University, at Bathinda Paramjit Singh said rain was good for the wheat crop at this point to time as it has lowered the temperature. He, however, said strong winds led to lodging of wheat crop. “There is time for the crop to recover,” he added.
State agriculture information officer Gurtej Singh said, “Due to cotton cultivation in the district, wheat on major portion here is sown late so it hasn’t been damaged,” he said. Punjab agriculture director Sutantar Kumar said rains at this stage would not cause any damage to standing wheat crop but downpour should not accompany high-velocity winds.
RAIN TILL SUNDAY
Meteorological department officials said that rain and strong winds could affect the region
till Sunday.
AAP DEMANDS FULL COMPENSATION
CHANDIGARH : Leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday demanded special ‘girdawri’ of the standing crops flattened by the untimely rain and hailstorm during the past two days.