SWABI: Farmers on Monday demanded of the authorities to declare Swabi calamity-hit district after a severe thunderstorm accompanied by rain and hailstones played havoc three days ago.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday, Kisan Board leaders said the standing crops of maize, sugarcane and vegetables had been badly affected at a very critical stage by the thunderstorm, causing financial losses to growers.

The participants said a number of families totally depended on their crops yield and a majority of the farmers had small fields.

Khalid Khan, KB district president, said the devastating thunderstorm had reduced the chances of farmers having the predicated yield. In such a scenario, he said it was responsibility of the government to constitute a team to prepare a report about the financial losses suffered by the farmers.

Thunderstorm coupled with rain, hailstones had damaged crops

Meanwhile, Alam Sher Gohati, Anjuman-i-Kashtkaran president, told mediapersons that leaders of the farmers planned to meet the parliamentarians belonging to the district to apprise them about the damage caused by the thunderstorm. He said parliamentarians were bound to help the farmers.

SHOT DEAD: One person was killed and another seriously injured in a firing incident in Swabi Adda main bazaar on Monday, said police.

Mohammad Adeel and Akhtar Iqbal were sitting in a shop in district headquarters that Mohammad Zakir and Tahir Mohammad allegedly opened fire on them.

As a result, Adeel died on the spot while Akhtar was injured. The latter was taken to the district headquarters hospital, wherefrom he was referred to Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, in serious condition. Police registered case and started investigations.

Also, two motorcyclists were injured when a loaded truck struck them in Jangidher village on Monday. Police said the injured were taken to a hospital in Peshawar in critical condition.

ASAD QAISAR VISITS HOSPITAL: National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar visited Bacha Khan Medical Complex, Shahmansoor, on Monday and met with patients. He asked the doctors to provide better healthcare to the ailing community.

He said Bacha Khan Hospital had already been converted into a teaching hospital after the establishment of Gajju Khan Medical College, and with the passage of time services at the hospital would be improved further.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2019