SWABI: A thunderstorm accompanied by hailstones and heavy downpour lashed the district on the night between Monday and Tuesday, badly damaging the standing wheat and vegetable crops in the district.

Farmers said the rain and thunderstorm continued for the whole night but the hailstones lasted for some time, damaging the standing crops.

Hailstorm was reported from Tarbela Dam, Topi, Batakara, Hilmet, Kalabat, Zarobi, Kotha, Maini and Gadoon Amazai belt.

Hailstones had also lashed various parts a few days ago.

Agriculture officials and farmers said the damage caused to the wheat crop at a very critical stage would significantly reduce its yield.

They said straw of the flattened wheat crop could not be used as cattle fodder either.

Liaqat Yousafzai, provincial general secretary of the Kasthkar Coordination Council, told Dawn that it was a setback for the poor farmers to see their well-grown wheat crop flattened by rain and hailstones. They have no other source of income and all their expectations are attached with the good crop yield, he said.

“The flattened wheat crop becomes a burden over the growers who cannot harvest it,” said Mehbood Ali of Maneri Bala village.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2017