Punjab to see rain again: yellow alert, strong winds, temp drops by 2.5°C

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Weather Update for Punjab: A rain alert has been issued again for Punjab, with strong winds and rain expected. Following heavy rainfall on Friday night, the night temperature has dropped by 2.5 degrees.

On Friday, Punjab experienced heavy rainfall, while the weather cleared up on Saturday. Sunday morning began with sunshine, but another weather change is expected in the state, bringing rain with it. Due to the rain on Friday, the night temperature on Saturday dropped by 2.5 degrees, with the lowest recorded temperature of 8.5°C in Amritsar.

The Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Monday, forecasting light to moderate rain and strong winds in several areas of Punjab. This could lead to further drops in temperature. Despite the dry weather on Saturday, which caused a 3.5-degree rise in the maximum temperature, it remains near normal. The highest temperature recorded on Saturday was 26.8°C in Mohali.

The minimum temperatures recorded on Saturday were:

- Ludhiana: 11.2°C

- Patiala: 13.2°C

- Pathankot: 10.2°C

- Bathinda: 12.6°C

- Fazilka: 12.6°C

- Ferozepur: 11.8°C

- Jalandhar: 12.3°C

Meanwhile, the maximum temperatures were:

- Amritsar: 22.3°C

- Ludhiana: 23.6°C

- Patiala: 24.6°C

- Pathankot: 24.4°C

- Bathinda: 22.6°C (1.5°C below normal)

- Fazilka: 23.3°C

- Ferozepur: 23.0°C

- Jalandhar: 22.4°C

Crop Damage Due to Rain and Hailstorm:

The heavy rain and hailstorm on Friday evening caused significant damage to wheat crops in Ghanour and Sanaur villages of Patiala district, with losses of up to 70%. The strong winds and rain caused the wheat ears to fall, and the crops, which farmers had nurtured, were destroyed. According to District Agriculture Officer Jaswinder Singh, wheat crops on 500 acres in Manjoli village of Ghanour constituency have suffered 70% damage, while wheat crops have also fallen in Malkpur village of Sanaur. A report on the affected villages has been submitted to senior department officials.

Farmers' Appeal for Compensation:

Farmer leaders Kaka Singh Kotra and Abhimanyu Kohad from the Kohad Khanauri border have called on the government to conduct a Girdawari survey without delay and announce compensation for the damage to mustard and wheat crops caused by the recent hailstorm and rain in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The farmers are urging the government to take immediate action and provide proper compensation for their losses.