Heavy hail and rainstorm played havoc with standing crops of tobacco, wheat, vegetables and fruit orchards in Swabi, said reports pouring from the natural disaster affected district here on Sunday.

The heavy rain began at Saturday evening across the district later converted into a heavy hailstorm that destroyed tobacco and wheat crops in Nazaray, Bachaiee, Yaqubi, Matha, Sikandarey, Babu Banda, Sheen Khela and Rajjar areas of the district. Similarly, rain has also affected crops in Gadoon, Lahore and other localities of the district.

President, Kissan Board (KB) district Swabi, Khalid Khan and general secretary Kashtkar Coordination Council, Liaquat Yousafzai and political leaders affiliated with different political parties have demanded declaring the district as calamity-hit and provision of financial assistance to the affected growers.

They have demanded immediate survey of the affected areas to provide relief to affected growers as soon as possible. They said that tobacco is under the control of federal government that is earning revenue of Rs.150 billion per annum for the country.