Chandigarh, April 23 -- Arrivals surge following Centre's relaxation on norms to procure grains damaged by recent rain, hailstorms

A sudden surge in the arrival of freshly harvested wheat has choked mandis across Punjab, with produce piling up faster than it can be lifted.

The glut situation has left farmers stranded, with produce spilling onto roads in several areas.

Over the last five days alone, more than 71.5 lakh tonnes of wheat has arrived in mandis, but state agencies have managed to lift just 15 lakh tonnes - around 21% of the stock - while the rest remains piled in the open.

Procurement began on April 1 when the state food and civil supplies department opened all 1,872 mandis across the state. But unseasonal rain and hailstor...