SIALKOT, April 21: Standing wheat crop stretching over hundreds of acres was badly affected because of overnight duststorm and heavy rain in the Sialkot and Narowal districts. Official sources said here on Wednesday the duststorm and rain not only damaged the standing crop, but also the harvested wheat placed in the open.

The provincial agriculture department officials told newsmen that they were assessing the damage to the wheat caused by the rain. The rain had started early in the morning and continued the whole day, making the weather pleasant. It remained cloudy and cold wind blew throughout the day. The low-lying areas were inundated under the knee-deep rainwater.

The meteorological office forecast more rain, accompanied with wind and duststorm, in the Sialkot and Narowal districts and the occupied Jammu and Kashmir during the next 24 hours. Meanwhile, the electricity supply remained suspended for several hours in various areas of both the districts.

GUJRANWALA: Windstorm and rain damaged standing wheat and vegetable crops on a large area also in Gujranwala on Wednesday. The rain started at 7am and continued for 15 minutes. It resumed again at 11am, damaging various crops.