Basit Lone
Shopian, April 6: A sudden and intense hailstorm on Monday afternoon struck several villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian and Kulgam districts, causing significant damage to orchards and standing crops.
The worst-affected villages include Saidapora, Kanjiullar, Mandujan, and Feripora in Shopian, while parts of Kulgam district also experienced heavy hail accompanied by strong winds and rain.
According to local residents, the hailstorm lasted for several minutes but was strong enough to damage fruit blossoms and tender crops in orchards, leaving many farmers worried about potential losses during the early stage of the horticulture season.
Farmers said the hailstones fell heavily across the area, damaging apple blossoms and other crops that had just begun to grow after winter.
“We were hopeful for a good season, but this sudden hailstorm has caused serious damage to our orchards,” a local farmer from Feripora said.
Residents have appealed to the district administration and the Horticulture Department to visit the affected areas and conduct an immediate assessment of the losses so that compensation can be provided to the farmers.
Officials said they are gathering reports from the ground, and assessment teams are likely to be deputed to evaluate the extent of the damage.
The incident has once again raised concerns among orchardists in the region, as unpredictable weather continues to affect the horticulture sector, which is the backbone of the local economy in south Kashmir.
