MANSEHRA, June 5: A hailstorm damaged tobacco and tea crop, vegetable farms and fruit orchards in four union councils of Pakhal area of the Mansehra tehsil on Wednesday.

The manager of the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB), Ali Akbar Marwat, told reporters that a good tobacco produce was expected in Mansehra district during the season but all the hopes of the growers faded away after the hailstorm in the area.

He said the tobacco crop had been damaged on 2,500 acres and added that according to an estimate tobacco growers had suffered a loss of Rs120 million.

The most affected union councils are: Trangri Sabir Shah union council, Malikpur union council, UC Shaukatabad and UC Bherkund where besides the tobacco and tea crops, tomato and cabbage farms and the orchards of apricot and plums had been badly damaged.

Meanwhile, the district Naib Nazim of Mansehra, Shahzada Mohammad Gustasap Khan, and other elected representatives visited the affected areas and assured the growers of taking all steps for their rehabilitation and compensation.