Fire destroys over 90 acres of wheat crop

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 23

Over 90 acres of wheat crop got destroyed today at Deepewal village in Sultanpur Lodhi, Kapurthala, and other villages after some persons threw a cigarette in the fields at a village near Lohian, due to which adjoining fields also caught fire.

Over 20 farmers got affected and suffered losses in the fire.

Officials said the fire started from a Jalandhar village which shares its boundary with Deepewal village of Kapurthala.

Eyewitnesses said the fire had spread in all fields in a fraction of a second and destroyed the entire crop.

A farmer, Manjit Singh, while talking to mediapersons said his 30 acres of fields got destroyed and he had suffered a loss of around Rs 10 lakh.

He said no government official reached the spot on time and it were farmers along with other residents who tried to doused the flames.

MLA Navtej Singh Cheema also reached the spot and said it was sad that such an incident took place. He said the the crop was matured and thus, they have suffered huge losses. He also assured the farmers that the governement would help them. Navneet Kaur Bal, SDM, Sultanpur Lodhi, said the moment the SDM office got the information, the fire brigade was called.

Residents of the village said before the fire brigade could reach the place, they doused the flames. The SDM said it would take around 15-20 minutes for the fire brigade to reach the spot. But it was made sure that every help be given on the spot.

She also said the report of losses incurred had been reported to the Deputy Commissioner, Kapurthala, and the required compensation would be provided.