Rain, hailstorm in Shangla raise fears of crop losses

SHANGLA  –  Intermittent rainfall continued for the second consecutive day in Shangla district on Tuesday, while hailstorms in several upper areas raised fears of significant damage to fruit trees, orchards and standing crops, according to local sources and farmers.

Following the rain and hailstorms, temperatures dropped across Shangla, prompting residents to bring out warm clothes, jackets and other winter apparel as the cold intensified.

According to details, intermittent rain continued in various parts of Shangla, particularly in the upper and mountainous areas of Alpuri, Puran, Martung, Chakesar, Shahpur, Kana and Ghorband, bringing a significant change in the weather. The pleasant conditions of the previous few days gave way to chilly weather, with cloudy skies covering much of the valley.

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Heavy hailstorms were also reported in some areas, particularly the high-altitude regions of Shangla Top, Kuz Puran and Martung, raising concerns about potential damage to fruit trees, orchards and standing crops. Farmers and orchard owners expressed concern over the sudden change in weather, saying hailstorms could cause substantial losses to fruit and other crops.

Shangla is known for its fruits, including apples, apricots, peaches and persimmons, and thousands of families depend directly on orchard farming for their livelihoods. Local farmers told The Nation that the current period was particularly critical for fruit orchards, as some fruits were approaching the final stage of ripening. They said hailstorms at this stage could destroy much of their hard work throughout the year.

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“The hailstorm has badly affected our orchards. Apples that were ready for harvesting have fallen to the ground. We appeal to the government to assess the damage and compensate the affected farmers,”

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