LAKKI MARWAT: Torrential rain coupled with hailstorm lashed parts of Lakki Marwat district on Wednesday, causing power outage and adding to the troubles of local residents, especially farmers.

Black clouds appeared in the evening. Later, a drizzle started and turned into heavy rain coupled with strong winds, which continued for over an hour inundating roads and streets in the urban areas.

The downpour also caused nightlong electricity suspension in many parts of the city. Residents of Haqdadabad, Hameedabad, Minakhel, Lorry Adda, Shaikhan, Sher Khankhel and other urban areas linked with city-II feeder in the 132KV Tajazai grid station were the hardest hit.

A resident said that the urban localities linked with the city-II feeder had to face outage daily during daytime.

“On Wednesday, after a day-long outage in the urban areas, power supply was restored in the evening but it was again suspended when rain and hailstorm started and continued throughout the night,” said another resident.

The hailstorm also damaged standing wheat and gram crops in several parts of the district.

“The recent spell of rain coupled with hailstorm is proving detrimental to the gram cop,” said Hameed Minakhel, a representative of farmers organisation.

He said the gram crop was ready for harvest and farmers fear the heavy downpour and hailstorm could spoil their yearlong hard work.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2023