Chandigarh, March 12 -- The farming community in Punjab is facing a severe crisis following heavy unseasonal rain, high-velocity winds, and hailstorms that struck the region in the early hours of Thursday.
The sudden change in weather has wreaked havoc on the wheat crop, which was nearing maturity and was days away from harvesting. In several areas, particularly around Ajnala and its neighbouring villages, the standing crop has been completely flattened, raising serious concerns regarding the quality and quantity of the final produce.
Local farmers have expressed deep distress, noting that the heavy winds and hail arrived at a critical stage when the grain was fully developed. According to initial estimates by the affected cultivators, th...