MIRAMSHAH, Oct 7: Two persons were killed and several houses destroyed as heavy downpour coupled with hailstorm wreaked havoc in North Waziristan tribal region on Tuesday.
The worst-hit areas included Saidgi, Tabai, Tolkhel, Danday, Manzarkhel, Darpakhel and Paikhel.
The rain coupled with hailstorm started late on Monday night and continued on Tuesday, causing damage to over a dozen houses and standing crops.
A 15-year-old boy and a guest identified as Farah Seyar were killed when roof of Hujra of Sher Hassan collapsed due to torrential rain in Saidgi village.
Banks of rivers Tochi, Konengo and Chashma outburst and swept away standing crops causing millions of losses to the farmers.
The people of the area have appealed the authorities concerned to declare the region as calamity-hit area and compensate the affected people.
Our Correspondent from Timergara adds: The displaced persons of Bajaur Agency living in different relief camps of Dir Lower were the worst sufferers as heavy rains crippled life in the district on Tuesday.
The rain-effected areas including Asband, Khanpur, Kotigram, Ouch, Chakdara, Maidan, Rabat, Samar Bagh, Timergara, and Talash received heavy downpour and hailstorm which started at about 6am and continued till 10am.
The standing crops of maize and tomatoes were destroyed in Asband, Khanpur and Kotigram due to the hailstorm causing millions of losses to the farmers.
The record hailstorm also damaged maize and rice crop in Sadbar Kalley, Samarbagh. The dwellers turned to sweaters and shawls after the cold wave.
However, the worst sufferers of the torrential rains were the displaced persons of Bajaur, who are residing in various camps including Khungi, Degree College Timergara, Elementary College Timergara, and tent village in Samarbagh. The displaced people complained of lack of food, medicines, and low quality of tents in the camps.
They also complained of outbreak of gastroenteritis in the relief camps of Degree College Timergara and Elementary College Timergara, saying over two dozens people most of them children were admitted to district headquarters hospital Timergara.