Mild showers around 6:30 am today brought much-needed relief to residents who had been reeling under severe heatwave conditions over the past four-five days. Though the rainfall lasted only for a short duration, it brought a noticeable cooling effect, especially after Ludhiana recorded daytime temperatures hovering around 44°C yesterday.Dr PK Kingra, Head of the Meteorological Department, said the daytime temperature witnessed a significant drop from nearly 44°C to 39°C following the showers, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 27.4°C.However, the prolonged spell of excessive heat has raised concerns among farmers, who fear the upcoming paddy season may prove particularly challenging. According to them, temperatures are already above normal and the ongoing global conflicts have triggered fuel-related concerns.Farmers worry that if the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) fails to ensure uninterrupted power supply, they may be forced to rely on diesel generators —an expensive and unsustainable option.Senior leader of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, Tarsem Jodhan, said Powercom was already grappling with several operational challenges, including staff shortage.“If there is a fault, it often takes four to six hours to rectify due to the shortage of staff. Paddy requires uninterrupted power supply for irrigation of freshly sown fields,” said Jodhan, adding that paddy sowing in Ludhiana is scheduled to begin from June 9.Explaining the irrigation pattern, Jodhan said paddy fields initially require frequent water rotation and later remain continuously submerged. Given the current power situation, farmers remain apprehensive and worried.“There is acute power shortage in the state and complaints regarding tripping, erratic supply and prolonged outages are being reported daily. Though authorities promise eight hours of supply, farmers believe this season will be a real test,” he added.