Heavy hailstorm has caused damage to fruits and agricultural crops in various villages of Bandipora.
The hailstorm on Friday struck various villages of Bandiporaincluding Kudara, Chandaji, Khayar, Lawaypora, Kaloosa, and Kehnusa, damagingagricultural crop and fruits.
Officials said that Kehnusa and Kaloosa villages have beenworst hit as orchardists have suffered damages.
“We had been toilinghard to grow these fruits to some earnings but our hopes have been dashed afterhailstorm hit our orchards,” said Ghulam Mohammad, an orchardist from Kehnusavillage.
An official said experts from the Horticulture departmentalong with officials from the Revenue department Kudara, Sumlar and Chandaji.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza said thatteams are assessing the damages and “eligible” orchardists and farmers will becompensated.
Meanwhile, reports received from the growers from Dalwan,Dulipora, Futlipora in Charar-i-Sharief and areas in Pulwama and Tral alongwith Lar Ganderbal said there has been crop loss due to hailstorm.
Bashir Ahmad Baba, president, Charar-i-Sharief GrowersAssociation said almost entire harvest of apple and other fresh fruits isruined due to frequent hailstorm, gusty winds and heavy rainfall during pastthree weeks.
Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union, which is anumbrella Body of all Fruit Associations of the Valley, has urged AdvisorIncharge Horticulture to conduct a loss assessment of horticulture sector.
“We urge SKAUST Kashmir and director HorticultureDevelopment Department Kashmir and Director Horticulture P&M J&K todepute the concern staff immediately to all affected areas hit by hailstorm,gusty winds and heavy rainfall particularly district Baramulla, Ganderbal,Budgam, Beerwah, Shopian, Kulgam, Pulwama, Kupwara and other areas as well forthe purpose of asserting the losses suffered by fruit growers,” saidBashir Ahmad Basheer, chairman, KVFGDU.