Heavy rain and hailstorm late at night have compounded farmers’ problems in Ghariala village, falling under the Khemkaran Assembly constituency in Punjab. Rainwater flooded the local grain market, soaking paddy brought by farmers for sale and raising concerns over possible damage to crops still standing in fields.
 

The waterlogging has created difficulties in protecting the harvested paddy and raised concerns about its procurement. Farmers Rajwant Singh and Sukhpal Singh said they had been waiting at the market with their produce for the past four days, but procurement had yet to take place.
 

They said the lack of adequate drainage and arrangements to protect the crop from rain had left farmers struggling to safeguard their produce.
 

Some farmers managed to cover their paddy with tarpaulins arranged on their own, but those without protective sheets could not prevent their produce from getting wet. The affected farmers expressed concern that a substantial quantity of paddy could have suffered damage due to the rain.
 

Farmers said they already invest considerable effort and money in cultivating their crops. Delays in procurement, combined with inadequate protection from adverse weather at the market, have added to their difficulties.
 

Workers Forced to Remove Water With Buckets
 

Gurmeet Singh, a labourer working at the grain market, said heavy rain had left large amounts of water accumulated across the premises. With proper drainage facilities unavailable, workers had to use buckets to remove the standing water.
 

He said the waterlogging had made working conditions difficult for labourers as well.
 

The affected farmers have urged the concerned departments and procurement agencies to expedite the purchase and lifting of paddy from the market. They have also sought effective drainage facilities and adequate arrangements to protect the produce from rain.
 

Farmers said timely procurement and better protection at the market were necessary to prevent further damage to the crop they had worked hard to grow.