Hailstorm destroys crops, vegetables in Parachinar

News Desk

Parachinar: Heavy hailstorm with torrential rain on Thursday destroyed standing crops over a vast area and vegetables in tribal district Kurram, local sources said.

The hailstorm continued in Mahora, Sameer, Topki, Ibrahimzai, Yaqubi and other surrounding localities of the district for half-an-hour resulting in heavy damages to crops and vegetables.

A farmer in the affected district said that the hailstorm occurred more than an hour and severely damaged the maize crop and vegetables of small farmers. Our maize crop, which was expected to be harvested after a week, had been destroyed by heavy hailstorms, he added.

Following the destruction, the local farmers and growers have demanded of the provincial government to declare the area as a calamity hit. They also demanded the KP to provide assistance to the affected people of the district.

Authorities in Loralai have stepped up emergency preparedness following heavy rainfall and hailstorms, with police and district administration intensifying efforts to prevent potential loss of life and property.

Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Fahad Ahmed (PSP) has placed all police stations in the district on high alert, directing personnel to remain vigilant and continuously monitor the situation in their respective jurisdictions.

Officials have been instructed to immediately report incidents such as injuries, collapsed houses or walls, road blockages, and other emergencies to the control room, providing complete details including exact locations and information about affected individuals to ensure prompt response and rescue operations.