Baramulla: Amid rains heavy hailstorm hit north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday afternoon inflicting large-scale damage to fruit industry by hammering down blossoming apple orchards, other fruits besides vegetable fields.
Sources said that speedy hailstorm lashed horticulture rich areas of Baramulla district and badly damaged fruit orchards in different parts leaving the farmer community high and dry. “Hammering relentlessly for about 5 to 10 minutes in many areas, the hailstorm left about a layer of white icy stones on the ground. Blossoming fruit orchards and vegetables suffered extensive damage due to the storm,” said Showkat Ahmed, an orchardist.
The worst hit areas include Baramulla, Hajibal, Rafiabad, Kanispora, Sangrama, Watergam, Dangiwacha, Ladoora, Mazbugh, Hadipora, Tangmarg, Wagoora, Kreeri, Sopore, Rohama and Pattan.
“We have been already pushed to the wall due to recent dry weather as there was no snow this year and now the hailstorms have dashed our all hopes,” said Ghulam Rasool another farmer.
The fruit industry is the main stay of economy in north Kashmir.
