20 acre standing wheat crop razed by blaze

Sangrur, Apr 19 (UNI) At least 20 acre of standing wheat crop was destroyed when fire broke out in the fields at two villages in Bhawani Garh block of this district today.

The fields of four farmers in Bakhtari village, including Sarpanch Rai Singh (5 acre) Master Kishan Kumar (6 acre) Milkhi Ram (4 acre) Madan Lal (1 acre) and of Purushottam Singh (3 acre) in adjoning Mattran village, were destroyed in the fire.

According to police, the fire broke out at about 1000 hrs this morning. As there was a power cut during that time, the cause of the fire was not immediately known as a short-circuit was being ruled out.

About 200 villagers got together and immediately ploughed the land surrounding the burning fields with tractors, thus cintaining the blaze, police said.

UNI XC JN BK1629