Hailstorm batters wheat crop; crisis far from over as another wet spell looms

Bathinda: Rain, hailstorm and thunderstorm activity continued for the second consecutive day in Punjab on Saturday, further aggravating damage to the standing wheat crop across several districts.Light to moderate rain was reported from Bathinda, Moga, Muktsar and Amritsar, while hailstorms lashed villages such as Karyal, Bajeke, Bakarwala and Rehrwan in Dharmkot subdivision of Moga district. Abohar also reported hailstorm activity.The inclement weather — marked by rain, hail and gusty winds — caused fresh damage to wheat fields, particularly in villages of Dharmkot, where farmers said the crop had already been weakened by earlier spells.Isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds, was recorded over Punjab and Haryana. Wind speeds ranged between 30 and 50 kmph, with gusts touching 60 kmph at some places.According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Punjab recorded 285% excess rainfall in the 24 hours between 8.30 am on April 3 and 8.30 am on April 4, receiving 2.7 mm rain against a normal of 0.7 mm. Haryana clocked 272% excess rainfall, receiving 2.2 mm against a normal of 0.6 mm, while Himachal Pradesh recorded 285% excess rain with 9.2 mm against the normal 2.4 mm.From April 1 to the morning of April 4, Punjab recorded 418% excess rainfall, receiving 7.8 mm against a normal of 1.5 mm. Haryana received 6.0 mm — 264% above normal — while Himachal Pradesh logged 12.0 mm rain, 69% above normal for the period.Thunderstorms accompanied by squally winds, with speeds ranging from 50 to 80 kmph, prevailed at isolated places across Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana.Bathinda recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the plains at 14.6°C.The IMD has warned that the weather disruption is far from over. Another fresh wet spell is likely, with isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, hailstorms and gusty winds expected over Punjab and Haryana on April 7 and 8. Himachal Pradesh is likely to see scattered to fairly widespread rainfall or snowfall on April 9.Gusty winds of up to 56 kmph were recorded at Mohali and Sangrur and 50 kmph at Bathinda. In Haryana, wind speeds reached 46 kmph at Charkhi Dadri and 44 kmph at Jind. Himachal Pradesh recorded the strongest gusts, with 59 kmph at Neri.(Pics: Hailstorm in Abohar; hail-damaged crops in Dharmkot villages)