Kulgam, Oct 17: Nature’s fury has once again struck the Shopian and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Hailstorms on Sunday evening have severely impacted farming communities, exacerbating the challenges they already face.
Areas such as Kanjiullar, Pratppora, Kapran, Vehil, and Ferripora have been among the hardest hit, bearing the full force of the hailstorm.
Ghulam Mohammad, a farmer from Kanjiuller Shopian, expressed his distress, saying that they are already grappling with financial difficulties, and recovering from these losses poses a significant challenge. The unpredictable weather patterns deeply worry farmers, especially during the apple-picking season.
An official from the horticulture department said there has been some damage in the Yaripora and Kadiyar areas of Kulgam. The hailstorm, lasting nearly 10 minutes, caused significant harm to apple crops.
“The authorities are on the ground, assessing the extent of the damage for potential compensation, following directives from higher authorities and the district administration,” he said.
In a statement, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, Chairman of Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, called on authorities to dispatch officials from SKAUST Shalimar and the Department of Horticulture Development Kashmir for immediate assessment of damages caused by the hailstorm. He stressed the union’s persistent efforts to activate the Crop Insurance Scheme and urged the Lt Governor to expedite its implementation.
Basheer also called for a fair and comprehensive relief package for the fruit trees, and urged the government to recognize the hailstorm as a natural calamity.
