Wheat, fodder, vegetable crops damaged in hailstorm in Bathinda

Tribune News Service

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Bathinda, March 2

The unseasonal rain and hailstorm in the beginning of March has left farmers devastated. On Saturday afternoon, a hailstorm was witnessed in Bathinda and nearby areas. Crops were damaged in Goniana, Bhagta and Balluana blocks in the district. The roof of a rice shellar reportedly collapsed at Bhagta. Windscreens of several vehicles were also reportedly damaged.

Special girdawari demanded

• Crops damaged in Goniana, Bhagta and Balluana blocks in Bathinda dist
• BKU (Rajewal) president Gurmail Singh has sought a special girdawari

Over 10 villages in the district were affected by the hailstorm that was so intense that the fields and roads turned white and the wheat crop was badly damaged. Several plastic water tanks installed on the rooftops of houses were also damaged.

Due to the unseasonal rain and hailstorm, wheat, mustard, chickpea, green fodder and vegetable crops were damaged in Mahma Sarja, Mahma Sarkari, Mahma Sawai Mahma, Burj Mahma, Killi Nihal Singh Wala, Mahima Bhagwana, Dan Singh Wala, Ganga Ablu, Virak Kala, Balluane Chughe Kalan, Karamgarh and Sardargarh villages.

BKU (Rajewal) district president Gurmail Singh has demanded a special girdawari in view of the crop damage in the area.

Director of Regional Research Centre, Bathinda, Dr Karamjit Singh said the unseasonal hailstorm in the region had damaged the wheat crop. Had there been only rain, it would have been beneficial for the wheat crop, he said.

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