Srinagar: Severe hailstorms on Wednesday night have extensively damaged apple orchards across several villages in Shopian district, a key apple-producing region in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to Kashmir Media Service, local apple growers from Adijan, Pushama, Reshnagri, and Kanjiullar reported that the brief but intense hailstorm left significant bruising on apples, severely impacting the harvest. The hailstones, described as chickpea-sized, also damaged the foliage of the trees.
Muhammad Ashraf Wani, President of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, noted that the storm lasted between 10 to 15 minutes, but the impact was devastating, with some farmers estimating over 50 percent damage to their crops. In some areas, the damage was reported to exceed 60 percent.
This season has been particularly harsh for the region’s apple farmers, with multiple severe hailstorms over the last two months leading to substantial losses. In Shopian district, where over 80 percent of the population relies on apple farming for their livelihood, these weather events have caused not only immediate financial strain but also long-term economic concerns for the community.