LAHORE: Dust-thunderstorm and rain continued to occur at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir on Sunday, keeping temperatures low but damaging crops.

Lahore continued to receive intermittent rain throughout the day. It was drizzling at 9pm. The day’s maximum temperature was 35 degrees C and comfortable for braving power load shedding and breakdowns.

Agriculturists said rain and dust storms were unusual at this time of the year and were either delaying wheat harvesting or damaging the crop. There had been considerable damage to the mango crop in Multan and other adjoining areas, said Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Khokher.

The Met department said Malamjabba recorded 50mm of rain, Pattan 32, Kohat 30, Kalam 23, Cherat 13, Balakot10, Peshawar and Dir 9, Lower Dir 8, Bannu, Saidu Sharif 7,Chitral 6, Kakul 03, and Drosh 2.

In Punjab, Sahiwal recorded 27mm, Toba Tek Singh 15, Kot Addu 12, Faisalabad, Lahore and Shorkot 7, Sargodha, Multan 6, Gujranwala , Kasur, Jhang, Joharabad 4, Mandibahauddin, Okara 3, Rawalpindi 2, Mangla, Kamra, Sialkot, Mianwali, D.G.Khan, Bahawalpur City 01 Gilgit-Baltistan’s Astore received 21mm, Bagrote 14, Bunji 12, Chillas 7, Gilgit 5.

The Met department forecast dust-thunderstorm/rain (associated with gusty winds / few hailstorms) at scattered places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad, FATA, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and at isolated places in Quetta , Zhob, Sibbi, Naseerabad divisions in the next 24 hours.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2017