Fatehgarh Sahib, April 20, 2018: Disaster struck the district today as thousands of acres of standing wheat crop was ravaged by fire. The fire started from adjoining villages of Patiala district Jalkheri spread to villages falling in the district Sangatpur, Chanarthal, Chanarthal KHurd, Pandrali, Attapur, Khojemajra, Sangatpur, Khare,Mirpur, Majri, Majri Sodian, Sidhwan and Sanipur due to high velocity winds blowing since morning.
As soon as the news of fire spread the police and civil administration officers led by Dr. Ravjot Grewal IPS ASP Fatehgarh Sahib and Manjit Singh SDM Fatehgarh Sahib rushed to spot and the fire tenders were rushed to spot from adjoining towns Mandi Gobindgarh, Rajpura and Khanna but were helpless before the gale storm.
Sensing more trouble SSP Alka Meena send an SOS message to Chandigarh Police and talked to SSP Chandigarh to send the fire tenders, which reached the spot in evening and still were struggling to control the fire.
Kuljit Singh Nagra MLA along with large number of Congress workers and other political leaders rushed to spot to help the farmers. MLA Nagra was leading from front and without caring for life entered the fields and urged the farmers to plough their wheat crop, so that fire may not spread to adjoining fields.
The farmers came out in large number to control the fire but were helpless before high velocity winds. They saved their livestock, children, household belongings and lives of family members, who live in fields.
Mukand Singh Sarpanch village Chanarthal Khurd said that it was natural disaster the wheat crop along with agriculture equipments and electricity motors have been gutted in fire of majority of farmers. The Govt. should announce compensation.
Kuljit Singh Nagra MLA consoled the farmers and assured that he along with affected farmers will call on Chief Minister for compensation. He also called upon the NGOs to come forward to help the affected farmers.
Till the filling of report the fire was not fully controlled.