Hailstorm wreaks havoc in Kashmir

Baramulla, May 13: A massive hailstorm accompanied by strong winds wreaked havoc across several areas of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday evening, causing widespread destruction to orchards and agricultural fields and leaving farming families in deep distress.

The worst-hit areas include Sangrama, Wagoora, Kreeri, Pattan, Kandi, Choondosa, Pachhaar, Tangmarg, Khaipora, kandi belt and some parts of Rafiabad, where residents reported severe damage to apple orchards and standing crops.

Arshad Ahmad, a fruit grower from Kandi Baramulla said that the intensity of the hail storm was so fast that in a moment the orchards presented devastation with a white layer of hail visible everywhere.

Locals said nearly 90 percent of fruit crops were damaged within minutes as intense hail hit the area during the peak farming season.

Eyewitnesses described heartbreaking scenes after the storm, with orchardists seen weeping while inspecting shattered fruit-bearing trees and flattened fields.

Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of SheikhporaWagoora, said the hailstorm which continued for around 10 minutes, left the orchards across the area completely damaged and orchardists are completely devastated.

“We are devastated,” Ahmad said. “We are unable to understand what we will do for survival now.”

Farmers said they were expecting a promising harvest this year, but the sudden hailstorm destroyed months of hard work and investment.

“Everything has been ruined. We have suffered huge losses,” said a grower from Kreeri.

The hailstorm, which struck late Tuesday evening, triggered panic across several villages as large hailstones pounded orchards and vegetable farms for a considerable duration.

Residents and growers have appealed to the administration and concerned departments to immediately conduct damage assessments and provide compensation and relief to affected families.

Meanwhile, MLA Baramulla Javed Hassan Baig expressed concern over the devastation caused by the hailstorm in orchards across Baramulla district.

He said the government would do everything possible to aid the affected families.