Hailstorm ravages south Kashmir orchards

Shopian, Apr 06: A sudden hailstorm on Monday battered several apple-growing villages across south Kashmir’s Shopian and Kulgam districts, damaging orchards at a crucial flowering stage and triggering fresh concerns over potential crop losses among thousands of farmers.

The storm swept through more than half a dozen villages in Shopian, including Manduja, Kanjiullar, Saidpora Payeen, Sedow, Chek and Mirzapora, flattening delicate blossoms and disrupting the ongoing flowering phase. Farmers said that although the hailstorm was brief, its intensity caused visible damage across large swathes of orchards.

“The hailstorm started at around 5 pm and lasted for about five to six minutes,” said Farooq Ahmad, an apple grower from Kanjiullar.

“It was extremely intense, and we could see blossoms being knocked off the trees.”

Growers warned that the timing of the storm could directly impact yields, as most orchards in the region are currently in the critical flowering stage, which determines fruit set.

Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, said the damage could significantly affect production if weather conditions remain unstable. “Many orchards were in the flowering stage, and the hailstorm will have an adverse impact on fruit set,” he said.

In neighbouring Kulgam district, similar reports of damage emerged from Manzgam, Aharbal and adjoining areas, where pea-sized hailstones struck orchards and harmed fragile blossoms.

“Even small hailstones can cause considerable damage at this stage,” said Mohammad Shafi, an apple grower. “The flowers are highly sensitive, and once damaged, the chances of fruit formation are greatly reduced.”

The hailstorm has compounded anxiety among growers already grappling with erratic weather patterns this season, marked by unseasonal warmth followed by a sudden drop in temperatures and rainfall.

Farmers also expressed concern over the absence of a robust crop insurance mechanism, saying it leaves them exposed to weather-related shocks. “We have no safety net. Any damage at this stage directly hits our annual income,” a grower said.

Apple cultivation remains a cornerstone of Kashmir’s economy, particularly in districts such as Shopian and Kulgam. Growers have urged the government to carry out an immediate damage assessment, provide compensation, and introduce effective crop insurance schemes to safeguard livelihoods against increasingly unpredictable weather events.