SWABI, Sept 16: Hailstorm and heavy rains have destroyed the maize crop in various localities of Swabi district.

The district and its suburbs were hit by hailstorm here on Tuesday morning that destroyed the crop.

Farmers were of the view that hailstorm had struck at a very crucial time and may affect about 75 per cent of production, causing financial problems for them.

They demanded that the areas which were struck by hailstorm should be declared calamity-hit and the provincial government should provide financial assistance to farmers.—Corresp-ondent