KOHAT,  April 3: Heavy rains lashed Kohat division and adjoining tribal areas for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, destroying standing crops and guava orchards, the farmer’s main source of income.

The districts of Kohat and Hangu as well as the upper and lower parts of Orakzai Agency were lashed by heavy hailstorms continuously for two days, destroying wheat and poppy cultivated on vast areas. Mud houses were also damaged. The farmers had expected a bumper crop this year but the rains of the last two days has dashed their hopes.

The rains also brought down the temperature by six degrees,(C), from 25 degrees to 19 in Kohat. Incessant rain with overcast skies has also been forecast for the next three days. In the Orakzai Agency, the temperature fell to below 10 degrees making life difficult for the locals who had just returned from the low lying areas where they spend their winters. People burnt wood to keep their houses and cattle warm.

Dozens of cattle have died in the tribal areas from the heavy rains and hailstorm.