Kashmir Valley Hit by Hailstorms, Agriculture Damage Assessment Underway

According to the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the large hailstorms caused havoc in various places of Kashmir, particularly in the districts of Kulgam, Baramulla, and Anantnag.

Hailstorms caused major damage to orchards and plants in the Kulgam area in south Kashmir. Growers from across the valley reported considerable damage to their orchards and crop fields as a result of hailstorms and other weather phenomena.

According to Abdul Jabbar Naik, a producer from Kulgam, hailstorms did considerable damage to his orchard, and the trees' fruit-bearing ability will be diminished this year. He claimed that orchardists have spent their whole revenues on fertilizer and manpower for their orchards and crop fields.

"This year, we expected a good crop because our orchards appeared to be overflowing with apples," Naik explained. The growers have asked the government to compensate them for the massive losses they have sustained over the years.

Meanwhile, Chowdhury Mohammad Iqbal, Director of Agriculture Kashmir, stated that Kulgam was the hardest devastated by the hailstorm that slammed the valley. "Our teams are on the ground to assess the damage," he explained.

After three days of moderate to heavy rain, the weather in Jammu and Kashmir began to improve on Friday, as water levels in the valley's major and minor rivers began to plummet.