Rain continued to lash Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday with temperature levels plunging below normal in most parts of both the States. The Union Territory of Chandigarh received rainfall of 5.2 mm and settled at minimum temperature of 10.8 degrees while maximum temperature was recorded at 21.3 degree Celsius, down by five notches from normal.
Among other places in Punjab, ludhiana and Patiala received rainfall of 29.1 mm and 5.7 mm respectively while their minimums were recorded at 12.7 and 11 degrees Celsius respectively. Punjab’s holy city Amritsar recorded minimum temperature at 12.8 degrees Celsius.
In Haryana, Ambala recorded 9 mm rains and Karnal 4 mm. The minimum temperatures at Ambala, Bhiwani, Hisar, Karnal and Narnaul settled at 10.3 degrees, 12 degrees, 9 degrees, 12.4 degrees and 9.2 degree Celsius respectively.
The maximum temperatures in most parts of Punjab and Haryana settled between 19 and 21 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature recorded was 20.5 degree Celsius in Ambala, 22 degrees in Bhiwani, 22.4 degree Celsius in Hissar, 22 degrees in Narnaul, 20 degree Celsius in Amritsar, 21 degrees in ludhiana and 19.2 degrees in Patiala.
The local Met Department has forecast light to moderate rainfall at many places in Punjab and Haryana in next 48 hours.Meanwhile, keeping in view possibilities of thundershowers, the farm scientists have advised farmers to do constant monitoring of rust disease in wheat crop.
According to the experts, with unusual widespread rains and high velocity winds lashing the northern region, about 10-20 per cent of timely sown wheat crop, which has got flattened, could face yield loss.Punjab and Haryana, which are major foodgrain growing states, have about 35 lakh hectares and 25 lakh hectares of area, respectively, under wheat in the current Rabi season.
Moderate to heavy rains continued to lash most parts of Punjab and Haryana in past two days.In view of possibility of rain in past 2-3 days, the farmers are also advised to drain out the excess water from nursery and vegetables. Possibilities of late blight may attack on potato and tomato to attack of thrips on timely sown onion crop, farmers are advised to constant monitor. The farmers have also been asked to sow green gram and black gram with certified seeds.
The farm scientists said, “The farmers should keep animals under sheds and provide the cattle or animal 50 grams of iodized salt and 50 to 100 grams mineral mixture daily with animal feed or fodder, Barseem, green fodder to keep them healthy.”