PARACHINAR: A hailstorm lashed Parachinar city and adjoining areas on Wednesday, damaging standing crops and orchards in the tribal region.

Residents said that hailstones pounded the area and accumulated on the roads and fields.

They said that the hailstorm badly damaged the standing crops and orchards in areas, including Zeran, Shoblan, Malana, Karman, Mali Kallay and Parachinar town. The rain and the hailstorm also brought the mercury level down in the region.

In Shangla, heavy rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm continued for the third consecutive day on Wednesday in almost all parts of the district, causing blockage of links roads and suspension of power supply.

The rainfall, which started on Monday, continued for the third consecutive day in the district.

The local people have been facing problems due to blocked link roads paralysing the routine life in the district.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018