Rain Disrupts Paddy Procurement, Submerges Fazilka & Other Grain Markets

October

2026

Heavy rainfall on 11 Oct in Panjab has dealt a major blow to paddy procurement. Rain flooded parts of the Fazilka grain market and submerged produce lying in the open at several wholesale markets, including Khanna, Batala, and Wadala Granthian, Gurdaspur district. Waterlogging was also reported in parts of Bathinda, Fazilka, and Muktsar districts, while farmers in Sangrur and other areas reported damage to standing paddy, as ripening plant stalks fell over or broke. Farmers fear that harvesting operations in affected areas could be delayed by at least a week, adding to concerns over grain quality and potential losses. In Hoshiarpur, standing paddy along with potato, sugarcane, vegetables, and other crops was damaged. In the Fazilka grain market, rain washed away large quantities of paddy and submerged bags under three to four feet of water, causing losses worth millions to farmers and commission agents. Inadequate drainage arrangements left the 90-acre market inundated, forcing some people to use boats to move between shops. Farmer Ravi Chaudhary says, ‘My paddy has been washed away. Although it was covered with tarpaulins, the incessant rain swept away the produce.’ President of the Arhtiya (commission agent) Association Sanjeev Goldy Sachdeva said, ‘We had brought the issue to the notice of the concerned authorities several times and urged them to make advance arrangements, but to no avail.’ Commission agent Sumant Setia demanded accountability for lapses and that affected farmers be compensated after a proper assessment of the losses once the accumulated rainwater had been drained out. Farmers and commission agents blocked the Fazilka–Ferozepur highway demanding compensation for their losses. Fazilka Market Committee Secretary Mandeep Kamra described the incident as a natural calamity. He said the administration had started draining the accumulated water using pumping motors and claimed that the process would be completed within a few hours. Fazilka Deputy Commissioner Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu said she recommended action against the Mandi Board (Grain Market Board) authorities. In 2026, paddy was cultivated on 131K hectares in the district, of which only around 4% had been harvested so far. Meanwhile, a 21-year-old laborer, Shanbaz, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the fields at Sidhwan Dona village, Kapurthala district. The police have launched an investigation into the matter (earlier coverage).