RAMGARH, Oct 9: Farmers in Ramgarh and Rajpura are facing the prospect of heavy financial losses after a spell of intense rainfall and hailstorm on Friday night damaged paddy crops spread across hundreds of kanals, prompting former minister Yashpal Kundal to demand an immediate damage assessment and adequate compensation for affected cultivators.
The sudden weather disturbance struck at a critical stage of the agricultural season, with paddy crops nearing harvest. Several fields have reportedly been flattened, raising concerns over reduced production and substantial losses for farmers who had invested months of hard work, money and resources in cultivation. Vegetable crops have also suffered damage due to the adverse weather conditions.
Expressing deep concern over the situation, Kundal said the damage had come at a time when farmers were preparing to harvest their produce and recover their investment. He observed that such natural calamities could severely affect the annual income of farming families and push cultivators into financial hardship.
Kundal urged the government and district administration to immediately dispatch special teams to Ramgarh, Rajpura and other affected areas to assess the extent of crop damage and determine the losses suffered by farmers.
He specifically demanded a special girdawari (crop damage assessment) to ensure that the losses were properly documented and eligible farmers received adequate compensation without unnecessary delay.
Emphasising the need for a comprehensive assessment, the former minister said both paddy and vegetable crops must be included in the survey so that every affected cultivator receives due consideration. He stressed that a timely and transparent assessment was essential to ensure that genuine cases of crop damage were identified and relief reached the intended beneficiaries.
Kundal called upon the government to treat the matter with urgency and extend immediate assistance to the affected farming community. He said farmers, who depend heavily on their crops for their livelihoods, should not be left to bear the entire burden of losses caused by sudden and adverse weather conditions.
He further emphasised that prompt administrative intervention and appropriate financial relief would help affected families cope with the immediate crisis and recover from the damage.
The hailstorm has heightened concerns among farmers in Ramgarh and Rajpura, with cultivators awaiting an official assessment of the losses and timely government intervention to safeguard their livelihoods.