Kupwara: Hailstorm wreaked havoc in many villages of Kupwara district causing damage to apple orchards walnut trees on Monday afternoon.

Reports reaching to GNS said that some villages including Puthwari Nowgam, Reshwari , Yahama, Mawerbala, Lawoosa Qalamabad Audoora, Shatgund bala and Drangsoo the hailstorm started at 5.32 pm and lasted for about 8 minutes which resulted in heavy damage to apple, walnuts cherry and vegetable gardens.

“This year, we expected a good crop as our orchards seemed to be abundant with apples, but the hail storm have dashed all our hopes,” locals said. They urged the government to help them as they had suffered huge losses for the past many years.

In the Handwara Rajwar and Qaziabad areas damage to the apple orchards has also been reported.