Bathinda: Four days after heavy rain battered parts of Punjab, a fresh spell of heavy rain, thunderstorms, gusty winds of 40-50 kmph and hailstorms lashed Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh from late Wednesday to Thursday, causing further damage to crops and structures.Uprooted trees and electricity poles disrupted power supply in several areas.In the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on Oct 15, Punjab recorded 5.9 mm rain against a normal of 0.3 mm (1,862% excess), Haryana 5.7 mm against 0.1 mm (5,552% excess) and Himachal Pradesh 6 mm against 1 mm (497% excess).From Oct 8 to 15, Punjab recorded 585% excess rain, Haryana 238% and Himachal Pradesh 56%.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the rain and hailstorms to a western disturbance, cyclonic circulations over north Punjab and south Haryana, and an associated trough in the middle and upper tropospheric levels.Isolated heavy rain and hailstorm activity were reported in several villages in Muktsar and Faridkot. Hailstorm was reported from Lande, Vattu, Mararwala Kalan, Dhigana villages in Muktsar, Jattabna Wander in Faridkot, Chak Kalyan in Faridkot, Jhadiwala and Guru Harsahai in Ferozepur.Meanwhile, 32-year-old Gurbaksh Singh died after a roof collapsed in Chak Kalyan village in Faridkot. The agriculture machinery was thrown away in Mararwala Kalan in Muktsar, while damage to crops was reported from some places.Earlier, on Oct 11, heavy rains submerged grain markets in Fazilka and Malout towns, extensively damaging crops.Farmer organisations have urged the state govt to order special girdawari and compensate farmers for their losses.
