India, April 9 -- Bathinda/Sangrur/Jalandhar/Ludhiana

With the harvest festival of Baisakhi just five days away, unseasonal rain, hailstorms and high-velocity winds have flattened the standing wheat crop, disrupting harvesting across Punjab by at least 10 days and leaving farmers worried about potential losses at a crucial stage of the crop cycle.

The sudden spell of adverse weather, particularly in the semi-arid Malwa belt, has led to waterlogging and widespread lodging of standing wheat crops. Slushy fields have made it difficult for farmers to use combine harvesters, forcing them to wait until crops dry to optimal moisture levels. Officials said wheat arrivals in mandis are now expected to begin only after Baisakhi.

Punjab agricultu...