SHANGLA/BATTAGRAM: A severe hailstorm accompanied by strong wind and rain destroyed standing crops and orchards in Shangla district on Thursday.

The hailstorm and rain continued intermittently for two days and lashed Bisham city, Alpuri, Puran, Chakesar, Kana, Martung and Makhozi tehsils of the district.

The hailstorm destroyed the orchards of guava, persimmon and orange besides standing wheat crop in the district. Farmers said that the wheat crop was ready for harvesting but the hailstorm destroyed it.

Habibullah, a farmer in Makhozi, said that their wheat crop was destroyed completely because the hailstorm continued for long time.

He said that rice crop was cultivated by them but it was also damaged by the hailstorm during in the last two days.

Mazhar Ali, an owner of guava orchard, said that sixty per cent of the fruit fell to ground due to hailstorm. He said it was a heavy ever loss for them.

He said that earlier bats had attacked the orchards but the yield remained better during the previous season. “Now the orchards have hit by the hailstorm,” he added.

In Battagram, the weather turned cold after heavy downpour, hailstorm and strong wind on Thursday evening.

The rain and hailstorm turned the weather cold and compelled people to wear warm suits. The heavy rainfall followed by strong wind started in the noon.

The rainwater accumulated in all low lying areas and caused problems for the local people. Many streets were also submerged by rainwater that made it hard for the people, especially pedestrians, to move around.

Scattered rain was reported from Kuzabanda, Ajmera, Chappargram and some areas of Allai tehsil.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2021