Srinagar, March 21 -- Chandigarh, March 21 () Moderate to heavy unseasonal rains continued to lash several places in Punjab and Haryana in the past two days, triggering fear among farmers about damage to the wheat crop.

Amid reports that high-velocity winds and heavy rains, accompanied by hailstorm, had caused damage to standing crops in some parts of the state, the Punjab government had on Tuesday ordered a special 'girdawari' for crop loss assessment.

The wheat crop is harvested in mid-April. Damage to the crops was also reported from few parts of neighbouring Haryana.

A spokesperson for the Punjab Chief Minister's Office said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) to issue detailed instru...