The hardworking farmers of Bhallaiana village are facing yet another setback as they grapple with the aftermath of heavy rains and hailstones that wreaked havoc on their wheat crops back in March. To add to their woes, recent rainfall has caused significant waterlogging in the area, inundating nearly 100 acres of fertile agricultural land in this village situated along the Muktsar-Bathinda road.
The deluge that occurred on Sunday has only compounded the misery for these farmers, and with the weather showing no signs of letting up, they fear that their losses might escalate further.
Hargobind Singh, one of the affected farmers, expressed his concerns, “Our paddy crop, which spans nearly 100 acres, is now submerged in knee-deep water. Given the low-lying nature of this area, we were already reeling from the damages caused to our wheat crops earlier in the year, and now our paddy fields are under water. We earnestly appeal to the state government to not only compensate us for the losses incurred on our wheat crop but also conduct a special assessment of the damages caused to our paddy crop in this recent calamity.”
Basant Singh, another distressed farmer, shared his plight, “After losing my wheat crop on 10 acres, I now find my paddy crop submerged in rainwater. It’s devastating to see our hard work and livelihoods washed away.”
Agricultural Development Officer Sukhjinder Singh acknowledged the severity of the situation, stating, “Reports confirm that the paddy crop on nearly 100 acres of land is indeed flooded. The critical window is the next 24 hours; if the rainwater recedes within this time frame, there is a chance that the crops might survive. However, any prolonged waterlogging could spell disaster for the farmers and damage their crops irreparably.”
The farmers of Bhallaiana village are enduring immense hardship, hoping that the authorities will take swift action to assess the damages and provide the necessary compensation to help them recover from this natural disaster. As the rain clouds continue to loom, the fate of their paddy crops remains uncertain, and they cling to the hope that relief will come their way soon.
