KHAR/GHALANAI: Heavy rain coupled with hailstorm damaged standing wheat crop, vegetables and fruit orchards in several localities of Bajaur and Mohmand tribal district late on Saturdayevening.

Locals and officials said on Sunday that the calamity also killed several cattle and damaged a number of vehicles in Bajaur. They said rain and hailstorm were reported in Khar, Salarzai, Nawagai, Chamarkand and Mamond tehsils, but the worst-hit were the mountainous areas.

Farmers told reporters that the wheat crop, vegetables and fruit orchards were mostly damaged by hailstones, which were very large in size, lasting for about one hour.

The rain and hailstones also blocked main and link roads.

Inayat Kallay-Laghari Road remained blocked for several hours. The hailstones also damaged windscreens of several vehicles.

Extensive damage to wheat crop has disappointed the growers, who were expecting good yield this year.

Taking to Dawn on Sunday, the growers said the hallstorm also caused death of several cattle in Salarzai area as they were grazing in the fields when the hailstones stuck.

The district administration and local agriculture department officials said the calamity had badly damaged wheat crop, vegetables and orchards on a vast area across the district.

The agriculture department officials said hailstorm reported for the second time in the current month could decrease wheat crop yield by up to 50 per cent in the region.

Meanwhile, people from different walks of life, including former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor Shaukatullah Khan, former MNA Shahabuddin Khan, PTI leader Usman Mamondzai, tribal elder Malik Sultan Zeb Khan, Javid Khan and JI MPA Sirajuddin Khan, expressed concern over the damage caused to the wheat crop, vegetables and orchards due to the hailstorm.

They asked the provincial government to declare Bajaur calamity-hit and extend financial assistance to the affected people.

Meanwhile, heavy downpour and hailstorm destroyed wheat and vegetable crops in different areas of Mohmand districtthe otherday.

The rain accompanied with hailstones lashed different farming terrains and damaged standing crops in various localities of Safi, Kamali, Haleemzai and Pandiali tehsils.

The farmers said affected crops particularly coriander etc had little chances of recovering now, thus resulting in big losses to them. Wheat harvest has been in progress while other crops like vegetable are expected to be harvested in next few days. Dawn Report