Hailstones destroy crops in Swabi

SWABI: Hailstones destroyed tobacco, wheat and vegetable crops in various areas of the district on Sunday. The hailstones, accompanied by torrential rain and thunderstorm, lashed numerous farming terrains. Leaders of the farmers said that the main areas damaged were Nazari, Mattra village and Sikandari Union Council, Gohati, Seenkhel and Babu Banda, and Maneri Bala Union Council. All these areas are known for both virginia and white patta (WP) tobacco growing and produce bulk of tobacco every year. Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board (KB), who also cultivated virginia and wheat crop, said that the provincial government should constitute a team to visit the hailstorm-hit areas and determine how much financial lose had been inflicted on the growers. The hailstorm also suspended power supply to various areas and Pesco staffers were busy removing faults from the system till the filing of this report.