Chandigarh, April 8: Concerns over agricultural losses have deepened after Chandigarh and its surrounding areas witnessed the heaviest rainfall of the current spell. The city recorded 46 mm of rain by Wednesday morning, leading to a noticeable chill as night temperatures fell more than five degrees below normal.
The weather department has extended an orange alert for the region, citing the likelihood of fresh thunderstorm activity and winds between 40 and 60 kmph. Moderate rainfall and gusty winds are expected to impact a wide belt including Ambala and Kaithal in Haryana, while lighter activity is anticipated in Ludhiana, Jalandhar, and Amritsar. Mahendragarh recorded Haryana’s lowest temperature at 14.1°C following the midnight downpour.
“The sudden shift in weather is attributed to an active western disturbance,” an IMD official stated. The spokesperson affirmed that rainfall remained widespread on Tuesday and intensified during the overnight hours, with scattered showers expected to continue throughout the day.
The agricultural sector remains the most vulnerable to these shifting conditions. Farmers declared that the wheat crop, much of which is currently in the harvesting stage, faces damage from flattening and excess water. Experts asserted that such weather disturbances can lead to quality deterioration beyond permissible limits. With the orange alert still in place, the farming community in Punjab and Haryana remains on high alert for further crop damage.
