UMERKOT: Rain and hailstorm hit Umerkot, Chhore and Mithi, the first pre-monsoon showers in the drought-stricken Thar desert, and Khairpur on Monday.

While the rain turned the weather pleasant in desert areas, it also damaged the standing wheat crop and the harvested grain lying in fields.

Light showers, accompanied by strong winds and hailstones, hit a few villages in Nagarparkar and Islamkot talukas on Saturday evening as well as on Sunday night, uprooting scores of trees and damaging thatched houses.

The hailstones caused death of scores of goats, peacocks and other birds in Piluro, Lunio Sama, Gori, Murid Taar, Libo, Siranghu, Dhinkario, Hothi jo Taar and other villages.

“The rainfall is untimely yet it is hoped it will help the grass grow which is much needed for starving cattle during this drought spell,” said a grower.

Rain and rainstorm lashed Nara taluka area for more than an hour. The villages of Qadir Wari area, Jummo Tarr and desert area of the taluka were hit by the rain and hailstones. A drizzle continued in the areas till the filing of this report.