Back-to-back hailstorms crush harvest hopes in Baramulla

Recurrent hailstorms have wreaked havoc across large parts of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, leaving orchards and agricultural fields badly damaged and pushing thousands of farming families into deep uncertainty.

On Thursday afternoon, an intense hailstorm accompanied by strong winds battered several villages in Rafiabad, including Kutru Naribal, Shalkoot, Braman, Ladoo Ladura, and adjoining areas, causing extensive damage to apple orchards and standing crops.

Residents said hailstones, driven by gusty winds, struck suddenly and damaged fruit-bearing trees and crops within minutes.

“Our orchards have suffered massive losses. We were already struggling after the earlier storm, and this fresh hailstorm has completely broken us,” said Ghulam Rasool, a fruit grower from Kutru Naribal.

The latest spell of destruction comes barely two days after a powerful hailstorm hit several areas of Baramulla district on Tuesday evening, affecting orchards in Sangrama, Wagoora, Kreeri, Pattan, Kandi, Choondosa, Pachhaar, Tangmarg and Khaipora.

Fruit growers said the back-to-back weather events have shattered hopes of a productive harvest season and dealt a severe blow to the district’s horticulture-driven rural economy.

Orchardists estimated losses of up to 90 percent in some areas, saying hailstones ripped through apple trees and flattened vegetable fields at a crucial stage of the farming season.

Fayaz Ahmad, an orchardist from Nihalpora in Pattan, said the storm turned flourishing orchards into scenes of devastation within moments.

“The intensity of the hailstorm was terrifying. Within minutes, everything turned white with hail and our orchards were ruined,” he said.

Residents described the scale of destruction as unimaginable, saying months of hard work and investment had been wiped out in a matter of minutes.

For thousands of families in Baramulla, horticulture remains the primary source of livelihood and sustenance. Growers said repeated climate-related shocks are now threatening not only this year’s harvest but also the economic stability of entire rural communities.

Locals and fruit growers have urged the administration to immediately conduct a damage assessment and announce adequate compensation and relief measures for the affected families.