SWABI: A hailstorm badly damaged tobacco, sugarcane and vegetable crops in various areas of Swabi district here on Saturday night.

The hailstorm continued for about two hours, damaging the Virginia tobacco crop, which was at critical stage of curing.

The growers said the hail and thunderstorm caused extensive damage to their crop. The most-affected areas were Kalabat and Khazana, some areas of Panjpir, Asota, Shewa and Kalu Khan.

Central president of Tobacco Growers Association Pakistan Liaqat Yousafzai said both the federal and provincial governments should provide financial assistance to the poor growers because their financial position had further weakened due to hailstones. “In this hour of need, tobacco growers badly require financial assistance,” he added.

Though the downpour turned weather pleasant, it caused major power disruption. Some areas of the district experienced 15 hours of power breakdown.

The Shahmansoor township welfare association members said power supply was suspended at 8pm on Saturday and restored at 11.35am on Sunday.

Similarly, various other regions of the district went without power supply the entire Saturday night.

Published in Dawn,June 20th, 2022