SHOPIAN: A powerful hailstorm struck several areas of South Kashmir on Saturday late afternoon, inflicting significant losses on fruit orchards and raising concerns among growers.
The storm affected Shopian’s Main town, Batpora, Meemander, and nearby localities, as well as Arihal and adjoining areas of Pulwama district. Large hailstones battered orchards for several minutes, damaging apple crops and breaking fruit-laden branches.
Local orchardists reported that the intensity of the hailstorm caused immature apples to drop from trees, while many branches sustained considerable damage during a critical phase of fruit development.
The losses are expected to have a major impact on horticulture, which remains the primary source of livelihood for thousands of families in the region.
Growers expressed distress over the repeated incidents of adverse weather, saying that successive storms have dealt a serious blow to their expectations for a productive season.
In addition to the hailstorm, several parts of Kashmir witnessed heavy rainfall and strong winds.
