SWABI: Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds damaged the standing wheat crop across Swabi, causing a considerable financial loss to farmers.

The growers told Dawn that the wheat crop was at a very critical stage and was expected to be harvested at the end of the current month. They said they were expecting a bumper yield this year, but the windstorm shattered their dream. They said the windstorm started on Saturday night and continued on Sunday.

“Our crop has already been affected by leaf rust disease, and now it was flattened by gusty winds, extensively damaging it,” said Sherinzada of Maneri Bala region.

Zar Bacha, another farmer, said they were totally dependent on wheat crop for their livelihood.

Khalid Khan, district president of Kisan Board, asked the provincial government to provide financial help to the rain-hit farmers.

When contacted, an official at the agriculture department’s Swabi office said wheat crop damaged near the harvest stage could only be used as animal fodder. He said downpour damaged the crop across the district.

THREE HELD WITH DRUGS: The police on Monday seized over 13 kilogrammes of charas and arrested three inter-provincial drug smugglers as they foiled an attempt to smuggle a big quantity of contraband to Punjab province.

The police stopped a truck at Shaheed Baba checkpost on edge of Haripur district, and during search, recovered 13 packets containing 13.33kg hashish. The police arrested three smugglers.

DSP Topi Mohammad Shafiq Khan said the truck was coming from Peshawar.

The drug smugglers were identified as Kamran Khan and Mohammad Rafiq, residents of Peshawar, and Mohammad Tufail from Kasur, Punjab. A case was registered against them in the Topi police station.

In the preliminary investigation they said that they were smuggling charas to Punjab from Peshawar.

Meanwhile, the police on Monday arrested eight outlaws, and recovered a Kalashnikov, two pistols with ammunition and ice-drug from them.

Teams of Swabi city and Zaida police stations led by DSP Swabi Jawad Khan conducted search and strike operations and made the arrests.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2024