Hailstorm flattens Punjab’s and Haryana’s wheat crop during peak harvesting

A western disturbance last evening caused thunderstorms, rain, and hail in numerous areas of Haryana and Punjab, where the rabi crop harvesting is in progress.

Received reports of light rain and thunderstorms came from Kurukshetra, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Ambala, and surrounding places. The wheat crop that was ready for harvest as well as the wheat inventories that were left out in the open at grain markets, particularly in the districts of Jind, Karnal, and Ambala, were harmed by the rain and hail.

Farmers in Karnal are in a difficult situation as a result of the wheat harvest that was destroyed by rain, hail, and strong winds in the fields of the Indri block and grain market.

A farmer named Ram Singh remarked, “We had invested our time and resources in growing the crop, but nature’s fury has destroyed it.” Another farmer named Jagbir Singh claimed that a number of issues, such as growing input prices, were already posing difficulties for farmers.

He said that the government needed to declare compensation for the damages they had endured.

Farmers suffered losses as a result of the rain and hailstorm, according to Nikhil Kumar, an arhtiya at the Indri grain market.

Another arhtiya, Parmod Kumar, said that the crops in the Indri region had suffered severe damage as a result of the unexpected and abrupt intense hailstorm and rain. The stock in the grain market had been ruined after becoming wet, and the standing crop, which was ready to be harvested, had collapsed.

Trees and electrical poles were uprooted by the storm at Jind district’s Pillu Khera and surrounding villages. In several places, farmers also complained about crop damage.

In a meeting today, Jind Deputy Commissioner M Imran Raza gave instructions to staff to make sure that, in the event of rain, the grain that is left out in the open in markets is covered with tarps.

Wheat growers in the area of Ambala were concerned about the unexpected rain and hailstorm. At the grain markets, thousands of wet wheat sacks are lying in the open. Jasvinder Saini, Deputy Director (Agriculture), stated: “Rain and hailstorm at this point will damage the crop. Approximately 50% of harvesting has been completed.” Additionally, it will postpone harvesting.

“There was no loss to the wheat stock in any grain market,” said Rajiv Chaudhary, DMEO (Ambala).