India, Oct. 12 -- Untimely rain accompanied by gusty winds wreaked havoc in Punjab and Haryana on Sunday, flattening standing paddy crops in fields and soaking harvested produce lying in grain markets, dealing a double blow to farmers just as harvesting and procurement were gathering pace.

The fresh spell of rain has heightened concerns over crop losses and harvesting delays, with farmers in both states alleging inadequate arrangements by the state governments to protect the harvested produce at grain markets.

The light to moderate rain drenched thousands of metric tonnes of paddy heaps and sacks lying open at purchase centres across the region.

In Haryana, the rain compounded existing procurement delays linked to high moisture content...