Standing wheat crop was damaged after rain, dust-storm and strong winds lashed Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday and Wednesday. Harvesting of wheat is on for the past 10 days in most parts of the two states.

"The strong winds and rain have damaged our wheat crop. The government should immediately order girdawri (harvest inspection) and offer compensation to farmers," said Santokh Singh, a farmer in the Fatehgarh Sahib district.

Punjab is expecting arrival of 180 lakh tonnes wheat at mandis this season. Of this, the government agencies are likely to procure 130 lakh tonnes.

Following rain and cloud cover, the weather remained pleasant in Chandigarh. The city recorded maximum temperature of 31.9 degree Celsius on Tuesday against 37.5 degree Celsius on Monday.

The maximum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana remained between 30 degree Celsius and 32 degree Celsius, three-seven degree below normal.

Met Department officials said the weather was likely to clear up by Thursday morning.

--IANS

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