Apple, cherry, vegetables and other crop badly damaged, several poplar trees uprooted, rooftops , two cars also damaged
Reyaz Rashid
Baramulla: Amidst rains and stormy winds heavy hailstorm hits different parts of north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora district onFriday afternoon inflicting large-scale damage to fruits industry by hammering down blossoming apple orchards, cherry crop, vegetable fields and other fruits. Besides it many trees were uprooted and rooftops of several houses got damaged.
The fruit industry suffered another jolt when speedy hailstorm lashed horticulture rich areas of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora district and badly damaged fruit orchards in different parts leaving the farmer community high and dry.
“Hammering relentlessly for about 5 to 10 minutes in many areas, the hailstorm left about a layer of white icy stones on the ground. Blossoming fruit orchards and vegetables suffered extensive damage due to the storm,” said Showkat Ahmed, an orchardist.
The worst hit areas include Baramulla, Uri, Boniyar, Hajibal, Rafiabad, Rohama, Kahispora, Magam, Kanispora, Sangrama, Watergam, Dangiwacha, Ladoora, Mazbugh, Hadipora, Tangmarg, Wagoora, Kreeri, Sopore, and Pattan and other areas.
Famers and apple growers have suffered extensive damaged orchards and other crops adding woes to the farmers and growers. The crops were severely damaged and the apple orchards have also suffered huge losses in these villages.
Ghulam Rasool, an apple grower said, “The hailstorm knocked down fruits and apple orchards about 5 to 10 minutes in many areas, the hailstorm left about a layer of white icy stones on the ground. Blossoming fruit orchards and vegetables suffered extensive damage due to the storm.
“We have been already pushed to wall due to situation from last three years in Kashmir due to pandemic and lockdowns , the incessant rains followed by hailstorm is disaster on our hopes as blossoming fruit got damaged due to the high intensity hailstorm and torrential rains,” said Parvaiz Ahmed another farmer.
The fruit industry is the main stay of economy in north Kashmir. Orchardists said that the storm knocked down apple, pear and cherry on the ground besides damaged vegetable and other crops.
The farmers demand compensation as fruit industry has suffered large scale losses during past couple of years and brace for another disaster due to continues bad weather conditions.
Locals informed that other affected areas as Braman, Khamo, Tangwari, Shalkote, Nadihal, Ladora, Ladowa,Shalkote, Wohulutra, Rohma and in Zaingeer belt areas like Sagipora, Zaloora, Wadoora, Tujar sharief, Harwan and in Rafiabad areas like Pazalpora, Sopur naghama, Wahipora, and in Handwara villages like Langate, Yaroo, Udipora, Ganapora, and Tulwari.
Farmers while demanding compensation for the losses said that the horticulture department should visit their areas and take the ground.
Sources said that several residential houses, orchards and standing crop suffered extensive damage due to gusty winds followed by rains, hailstorm in parts of Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora and several other areas.
Wind storm hits North Kashmir two poplar trees fell at National Highway pattan, Road Blocked, car damaged. Massive wind Storm creates panic in North Kashmirs Baramulla district after two long Poplar Trees breaks and falls on National Highway pattan on Friday Late afternoon
Official said that Due to massive wind storm two poplar trees fall on National Highway among which one falls on Waganor car bearing registration no. JK05C 0519 and damaged it completely.
Fortunately car was parked on roadside and was empty thus results no untoward incident He said
The road was blocked however Pattan Police and other officials rushed to the spot and Make crucial efforts to resume the traffic he said.
It’s pertinent to mention that the tree hit national highway on the same spot where a week ago youth died after hit by a branch of Chinar tree.