Heavy rains damage crops in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: Heavy rains in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh since Wednesday have inundated low-lying areas and destroyed crops, especially of bajra and paddy which were ready for harvesting.

Major rivers like Yamuna, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar, their tributaries and canals are also swollen due to the incessant rains, promting authorities to sound an alert in villages along the embankments.

Paddy and bajra which were brought to the grain markets for sale by the farmers were damaged and if the rains continue it could lead to major losses, the officials added.

Heavy rainfall was reporetd in Panchkula, Mohali, Gurdaspur, Phagwara, Ambala, Jind, Hisar and Sonepat.

Met office has recorded 148 mm of rainfall in Safidon in the plains of Punjab and Haryana, followed by 70 mm in Narnaul, 39 mm Kalka, 32.1 mm Hisar and 29.2 mm in Bhiwani.

Met office sources said the monsoon is though normal in Punjab, it is "vigorous" in Haryana.

There could be heavy rains with thundershowers at most parts of Punjab and Haryana in the next 48 hours, acording to Met forecast.