SHANGLA: Bats have attacked fruit orchards in mountainous region of Shangla district, causing losses to the owners.

The orchard owners told mediapersons here on Sunday that a large number of bats had been spotted in the area.

They said the bats were destroying ripe fruits, including persimmon, apple and pear, and maize crop.

Hussain Ali, a resident of Pirabad area of Alpuri tehsil, said he had never seen such big bats, which were damaging fruits. He said red persimmon was the main fruit of the area which the farmers sold in the season to make livelihood for their families.

Mohammad Ali, an orchard owner, said that he did not know how to save his orchards from the bat attack. He said neither the wildlife department nor any other authority of agriculture department had so far taken notice of the threat to the fruit and crops in the area.

Dayan Ghafar from Puran said bats had been roaming in the orchards and crops field in their areas for about a year.

Imran Raza, another resident, said that bats had damaged fruits in his orchards, especially pear, peach apricot, guava and walnut.

The Shangla residents have demanded of the wildlife and agriculture departments to tal(e steps to protect the fruit and crops from bats.

When contacted, wildlife range officer Nasar Ali said he was not aware of the presence of bats in Alpuri tehsil.

However, he said he would discuss the matter at his office on Monday (today).

HEAVY RAIN: Bisham-Swat, Alpuri-Puran and several link roads were blocked as heavy rain lashed various parts of Shangla district.

The torrential rain, which continued on Sunday for the second consecutive day, also disrupted power supply in parts of the district.