SWABI: Heavy rain and hailstorm damaged standing crops and vegetables over a vast area here on Friday.

The hailstorm mainly hit Topi tehsil and Tarbela Dam areas where farmers said that their crops, especially maize crop and vegetables, had been damaged.

“Maize is widely grown in the area and at present the crop is at critical stage of production. The hailstones have damaged the crop,” said Arab Khan, a farmer of Topi city.

Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board, said that it was the second time in last one month that hailstones harmed the crops in different parts of the district.

The storm also caused suspension of power supply in several parts of the district. The rain has, meanwhile, turned the weather pleasant in the district.

KILLED: A man killed his father inside their house in Chota Lahor tehsil on Friday, police said.

The incident occurred in far-flung Jalbai village in the limits of Tordher police station.

Registering an FIR, wife of the deceased, Nur Zaman Shah, told police that her son Jamal Shah had developed differences with his father over some domestic issues.

She said that she had made all-out efforts to end their difference, but failed. She said that Jamal opened fire on his father, killing him on the spot.

Soon after registration of the FIR the police arrested the alleged killer from his relatives’ house and also recovered a pistol from him.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2014