Apart from the paddy crop transplanted on thousands of acres, the recent floods in Punjab also destroyed cotton sown in an area measuring around 9,200 acres. According to figures released by the Department of Agriculture, 2,000 acres of standing crop have reported severe damage in Faridkot district alone.

Cotton is the major crop sown in south western districts of Punjab — Faridkot, Moga, Mansa, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Bathinda and Patiala areas among others.

Reports of affected crop have come from Doka, Tehna, Kameana, Veerewala, Nanagla, Chameli, Dhidhi. Mandwala, Dhurkot, Jeewanwala and Aulakh villages in Faridkot.

Agriculture Development Officer Kiranjit Singh said: “This crop is grown in low-lying areas and the floodwater has stagnated in the fields here. With the sun shining bright for the last couple of days, this water has warmed up and damaged the crop. The rainfall that we had today will spell further doom for the crop. There could be an outbreak of a pest attack too.”