Baramulla, Jun 05: A woman was killed when a Poplar tree fell on her at Kachwa Muqam in Wagoora tehsil of Baramulla district on Tuesday afternoon.
She was identified as Hajira Begum (55), wife of Ghulam Rasool Mir, a resident of Kachwa Muqam.
Locals said the woman was transplanting paddy saplings in the fields when gusty winds uprooted a poplar tree which fell on her.
She was immediately rushed to SDH Kreeri wherefrom she was referred to SMHS Hospital where she succumbed.
Station House Officer Chandoosa confirmed the death.
Meanwhile, gusty winds accompanied by rain and hailstorm hits different parts of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday afternoon inflicting huge damage to fruits and other trees.
The fruit industry suffered another jolt today when speedy winds and hailstorm lashed horticulture-rich areas of Baramulla district and badly damaged fruit orchards in different parts of the district.
“Hammering relentlessly for about 5 to 10 minutes in many areas, the hailstorm left 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, Kahispora, Magam, Kanispora, Sangrama, Watergam, Dangiwacha, Ladoora, Mazbugh, Hadipora, Tangmarg, Wagoora, Kreeri, Sopore, Rohama and Pattan and other areas.
“We have been already pushed to wall due recent dry weather as there was not much snow this year, and now the hailstorm has inflicted more damage to our orchards,” said Parvaiz Ahmed, a farmer.
The fruit industry is the main stay of economy in north Kashmir. Orchardists said that today’s storm knocked down blossoming buds of apple, pear and cherry besides damaging vegetable and other crops as well.
The farmers have urged the authorities to assess the damage and compensate them accordingly.
Meanwhile, MLA Baramulla Javid Hussan Beigh and MLA Rafiabad Yawar Dilawar Mir have asked the Horticulture department to sent their teams to assess the damage and prepare a report for compensation to the affected growers and farmers.
