Bathinda, Aug. 27 -- The rains sweeping through the semi-arid southwestern districts of the state have emerged as a significant threat to the region's crucial cotton and kinnow crops, officials and farmers have said. With over 8,000 acres of farmland inundated in Fazilka alone, the incessant rain is dampening hopes of a good harvest this kharif season.

Cotton, which is at the sensitive flowering stage, has borne the brunt of downpours over the past 48 hours.

According to agricultural experts, the cotton crop was doing well till Sunday in the entire region before the untimely showers posed a serious challenge to the crop, referred to as "white gold". According to Karamjit Singh Sekhon, regional director of the Bathinda-based regional res...