Chandigarh, April 25
Heavy rain causing damage to standing and harvested wheat crop has been reported from various parts of Punjab. It has also impeded the harvesting operations, which are in full swing, in certain areas especially in the central Punjab. According to information reaching here, areas adjoining Ludhiana experienced heavy rain this afternoon. It was accompanied by duststorms at certain places. Reports of hailstorms have also been received here.

There are reports of rain from Shimla, Bhunter in Himachal Pradesh and also certain parts of the Haryana. Ludhiana, received 40 mm of rainfall and Chandigarh and its adjacent areas like SAS Nagar and Panchkula had 20 mm of rain. However, only light showers were reported from Patiala, Ambala.

Official sources said the duststorm which hit the city at 3.32 p.m. had a velocity of 86 kms per hour.

According to information gathered by The Tribune, the storm has damaged standing wheat crop in certain parts of Ludhiana, Amritsar and other districts. About 20 to 30 per cent wheat crop is yet to be harvested in certain parts of Punjab, it is learnt. The rain water entered in certain grain markets in Ludhiana district and in Ropar district.

However, no official estimate of the loss caused by the rain in grain markets is available. When contacted, a senior official of the Punjab Government said: “We have told the officials concerned to send their reports regarding the damage caused by rain at the earliest. He said only after making the proper assessment, the government would be able to reveal the actual figure. However, he said the damage would be insignificant as in most parts the wheat crop has been harvested by now”. But if the rain continued for the next 24 hours, the damage to standing wheat crop as well as to the wheat lying in grain markets would be substantial, he added.

No official of the Agriculture Department was available for comments on today’s rain and inclement weather.

Sources said because of high velocity duststorm mango crop had also been badly hit in the Ropar-Hoshiarpur and Pathankot belt.