Srinagar, October 24, 2021 (PPI-OT):In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, thousands of apple-laden trees were torn apart under the weight of a devastating untimely snowfall that has once again wreaked havoc on the horticulture sector.

Pitiful scenes of orchardists were witnessed in south Kashmir trying to pluck apples and shake down the snow from their trees with bare hands even amid heavy snowfall. Kashmir’s apple industry has once again suffered huge losses due to the untimely snowfall that has come a fortnight earlier than in November 2019 when thousands of fruit trees were damaged.

According to locals of Sedow, Rawalpora, Shalatoo, Meminder, Keller, Zawoora, DH pora, Manzgam, Bamnoo and other villages in upper areas, more than 40 percent of apple was yet to be harvested when it started snowing and raining on late Friday night.

They said that orchardists in the area, who comprise 90 percent of the local population, have been devastated due to this snowfall. In Hirpora area, according to locals, one foot of snow has accumulated on the ground. They added that 40 percent of the fruit trees in the area, mostly of apple, had been damaged due to heavy snowfall.

Similarly, in Kareva Shadab, Shalatoo and other areas, where more than 40 percent fruit was yet to be harvested, orchardists said that huge damage has occurred both to trees as well as fruits.

Muhammad Ishaq Wani, a local from Arshipora, said that many growers in the area had been taking down the apples since the forecast of the snowfall, but despite that many of their trees and much of their fruit has been damaged due to the snowfall.

Muhammad Nafie, a local from Dochnu Hirpora, told media that orchardists in the area spent the whole day in their orchards to save trees, but almost half the number of their trees fell apart due to the intensity of the snow.

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