Chandigarh, April 7
Punjab has deployed more than 500 agriculture officials across seven districts to assess crop losses caused by recent unseasonal rain and hailstorms, the state’s Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has said.
The minister said the teams include 145 senior officers who are overseeing operations in Amritsar, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, Ferozepur and Moga.
Officials have been instructed to work closely with the Revenue Department to carry out a “special girdawari” — a detailed field survey — ordered by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to evaluate crop damage.
The move follows the chief minister’s announcement a day earlier, underlining the government’s focus on providing immediate relief to farmers.
Preliminary estimates suggest wheat crops spread over more than 125,000 acres have been affected by the adverse weather.
Khudian said the state government “stands shoulder to shoulder” with farmers and assured compensation in line with official norms once final reports are submitted by district authorities.
He added that no effort would be spared to ensure that all affected farmers receive due compensation.
The minister also visited damaged fields in Sri Muktsar Sahib, saying the assessment process was being carried out on a “war footing” to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Field officials have been asked to stay in constant contact with farmers and offer technical advice to help salvage any remaining crop.