Hailstorm damages crops, fruit trees in Bumburate
CHITRAL: A hailstorm followed by flooding damaged two houses and other private properties, including crops and fruit trees, in Bumburate valley on Sunday evening.
FILE PHOTO.Local people told ChitralToday on phone that the hailstorm was so severe that it brought down all fruit flowers from trees and damaged crops.
the hailstorm occurred over an area of about two kilometres between Aneez to Wados villages.
The hailstorm was followed by flood which damaged three rooms of Attaullah in Saruzjal and also swept away all belongings in the house.
A cattle pen and fruit trees of Zahir Shah were also damaged in Aneez village.
Local social worker Wali Ullah said that people of the villages escaped to safety but their properties were damaged by the hailstorm and flood.
He said the local people suffered huge losses due to the damages to their properties and needed compensation from the government.
Climate change-related incidents such as floods and landsliding have caused more damages to public and private properties in Chitral in the recent past.
The Kalash valleys have also faced the brunt of these natural calamities for many years in row.
Meanwhile, rain lashed most parts of Chitral on Sunday but there were no reports about blockade of roads or any other rain-related incidents.
Moreover, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) issued an alert about possible landsliding and flooding in Malakand Division and other areas.
The departments concerned were asked to take measures to meet any emergency situation. –Muhkam Uddin Ayuni