KOHAT, May 11: Heavy rains and hailstorm damaged fruit orchards, vegetable and wheat crops in the Kohat division on Friday.

Farmers told Dawn that rains and hailstorm had hit the areas where harvesting of wheat crop had started. Most damage was done in Naryab area of Hangu. In these areas, 127 small cattle and 68 buffaloes had also been killed besides ruining standing crops on 20,000 acres of land.

Faisla, a farmer from Hangu, said that continuous rains, hailstorm and cloudy weather had damaged the crops. Moreover, due to rains, standing wheat crop in Hangu, Kohat and Thall areas has developed diseases causing losses to the tune of millions to farmer. The farmers demanded of the government to compensate them for the losses.

PROTEST: The agitation of students of pharmacy department of the Kohat University of Science and Technology seeking affiliation with the Pakistan Pharmacy Council entered the 48th day on Friday.

The students of the pharmacy department boycotted their classes and blocked the Indus Highway for two hours. They reminded the governor and chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of their promise of affiliating their department with the Pakistan Pharmacy Council.

They were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the university administration and the government. However, they ended the blockade of the highway after the police arrived.

Meanwhile, the police arrested four proclaimed offenders on Friday. The Cantt police arrested one Mohammad Jan for harbouring proclaimed offender, Khayal Nawaz, during a routine patrol. Similarly, the Lachi and Riaz Shaheed police arrested proclaimed offenders, Farhan and Asmatullah, during different raids in the area.