Sirsa: A devastating fire that broke out after farmers burn wheat stubble in the district wreaked havoc today in over four dozen villages besides gutting the Maha Lakshmi Mills and the General Industry, a factory in Moriwala village situated on the national highway here, officials said.

Firefighters are still struggling for more than 20 hours to extinguish the fire at the Moriwala factory.

The fire has damaged property, goods and standing crops worth lakhs of rupees, according to sources.

Murari Lal, owner of the Maha Lakshmi Mills, said he had lost property and goods worth over Rs 15 lakhs.

Officials said standing wheat crops in about 110 acres of land in Dabwali areas perished in the fire. Reports of damage caused by the fire are still pouring in from several villages, according to the officials.

Some of the worst-hit villages included Sikanderpur, Sahuwala, Mirzapur, Rasulpur, Darbi, Baidwala, Badagudha, Daulatpur Khera, Kripal Patti, Budimari and Mojukhera.

Officials put the blame on the farmers, who "willfully" defied the district authorities prohibitory orders that put a complete ban on burning wheat stubble.

The farmers, after harvesting wheat crop, are in a hurry to prepare their land for the next crop, the officials added.

Source : PTI