Torkham: A sudden hailstorm at the Torkham border crossing earlier today left dozens of vehicles with shattered windows and damaged bodywork. Eyewitnesses reported marble-sized hailstones pelting the area for nearly 30 minutes, with the taxi stand and commercial parking zones suffering the worst damage.
Local taxi driver Amanullah described the scene: “It sounded like firecrackers going off – within minutes, every vehicle around me had broken windows.” Border officials temporarily slowed processing as crews worked to clear broken glass from the roads.
The storm damaged at least 60 vehicles, according to initial estimates. Mechanics at the border reported being overwhelmed with repair requests, while insurance providers braced for a flood of claims. No serious injuries were reported, though several people received minor cuts from flying glass.
Meteorologists noted this was an unusually severe hailstorm for the region, with some hailstones measuring nearly 5 centimeters in diameter. Cleanup operations continued into the evening, with officials warning travelers to expect minor delays at the crossing throughout the night. Local vendors quickly began offering temporary plastic sheeting to help drivers protect their damaged vehicles from the elements.
