Chandigarh, March 13 (IANS): Standing wheat crop was damaged in hundreds of acres of agricultural fields in Punjab and Haryana due to unseasonal rainfall accompanied with high velocity winds over the past 24 hours.

The rainfall, which started late Friday, continued through Sunday. Hail were also experienced at some places in the states.

Besides the wheat crop, other crops and vegetables were also affected by the rain and thunderstorms.

"Crops were damaged in several districts. Our field officers are assessing the damage based on the initial reports," an official of the Punjab agriculture department told IANS here.

Reports said that the wheat crop was damaged by rains and winds in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Faridkot, Moga and Fazilka districts.

Areas in Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts received over 30 mm rainfall on Saturday.

"This unseasonal rain has damaged the wheat crop and other vegetables. Farmers have suffered big losses. The government should immediately announce compensation for the affected farmers. Otherwise, the farmers will be under severe debt," Atam Singh, a farmer in Amritsar district, said.

In Haryana, the standing crops were damaged in Ambala, Karnal, Hisar, Fatehabad and Kurukshetra districts, officials said.

Punjab and Haryana contribute over 60 percent of food grains (wheat and paddy) to the national kitty.