SWABI: Rainwater inundated several low lying areas and roads in the district after heavy downpour on Sunday night.

The first monsoon rain lashed the district two days back, making the weather pleasant. However, the heavy downpour, which followed the first monsoon rain, created problems for the people and damaged crops.

Swabi-Topi Road near Baja and Bamkhelk areas were inundated by rainwater and similar reports were received about Topi-Zaida, Swabi-Mardan and Swabi- Jehangira roads.

In several areas including Kadi, Bamkel, Kunda, Kayakabal, Hund, Tand Khoi, Sheikh Dheri, Beka, Yar Hussain and Tordher people were seen waiting helplessly near their inundated houses for the rainwater to recede.

An official of Chota Lahor tehsil, when contacted, said that various low lying areas were badly affected by the rainwater. More rain would mean more miseries for the people, especially the farmers, he added.

Heavy downpour damages tobacco, maize crops

The tobacco and maize growers said that rainwater had badly damaged both the crops. Tobacco is ripe for curing and grading process while maize has recently been cultivated by the farmers.

The farmers said that standing rainwater in tobacco and maize fields could damage their crops completely. They said that even if the crops survived, the yield would be reduced and the quality would be affected badly.

The farmers said that there was need to drain water from the fields as soon as possible but it was out of their capacity. “The danger of more damage to crops is looming large if the rains continue,” said Sardar Khan, a resident of Maneri Bala village.

Liaquat Yousafzai, general secretary of Kashtkar Coordination Council, said that tobacco purchasing companies were reluctant to buy the affected crop. The damaged crop could not be cured properly, he added.

Mr Yousafzai said that maize crop could not produce the expected yield and it lead to a huge financial loss of the growers.

No causality was reported from any area of the district, however, heavy rain had badly damaged the mud houses.

On the other hand, the rain has made the weather pleasant and people thronged bazaars for Eid shopping. Huge traffic jam was witnessed in the town that caused inconvenience to the people.

“I have not witnessed such rush of vehicles and people during my 60 years business in the district markets,” said Mohammad Ali, district president of Anjuman-i-Dokandaran.

The people were in hurry to complete Eid shopping, saying that Sunday was the last day of Ramazan. They expected that Shawal moon would be sighted

Traffic jam was also witnessed at the main markets of Topi tehsil. Several motorists turned towards Topi Bypass but despite that traffic could not be controlled by the traffic police and vehicle owners were seen clashing with each other.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2014