Srinagar, June 1: Peoples Conference (PC) senior vice president Abdul GaniVakil Tuesday expressed concern over the damage caused to apple blossom, walnuts, pears and other standing crops due to a massive hailstorm in upper belt of Rafiabad on Tuesday.
In a statement issued here, Vakil said that the hailstorm had caused massive damage in upper Rafiabad areas of Kangroosa, Chatoosa, Hunaroo, Hachepora, Braman, Balhama, Pazalpora and Panzulla and demanded comprehensive compensation to the orchardists and farmers who suffered heavy losses due to the hailstorm.
He said that it was the third time that the hailstorm had completely destroyed and damaged standing crops of farmers including all kinds of vegetables. Vakil said that while the natural calamities cause damage to the crops of farmers, it had been seen that the government had always been seen just a “silent spectator”. He said that the worse-affected people had always been assured compensation and even surveys were conducted yet no relief reaches them.
Vakil urged the J&K government to go for immediate assessment of damages to fruit and other crops and disburse financial relief to the affected families without any delay as they had already suffered heavy loss in the past due to hailstorm.