Pulwama/ Shopian/Anantnag: Unexpected snowfall on Saturday in Kashmir proved damaging for the farmers as it severely damaged apple orchards in most parts of Valley including Tral and Shopian.
INS received many calls regarding extensive damage caused to apple trees in most of the orchards due to the heavy snowfall that accumulated on apple trees.
One of the fruit growers, Rameez Ahmad, from Tral’s Panner Jageer, said that the snowfall damaged large number of apple trees in Panner Jageer village as “branches of trees broke down due to the weight of the snow.”
Reports of damage to trees came from other areas of Tral as well including Bhatnoor, Ladibal, Shikargah, Koil, Sangnad and other areas. Reports of damage to the apple and other fruit trees have been received from other areas of the southern Pulwama district.
Mudasir Ahmad, an orchardist, from Shopian that all orchards have suffered extensive damage due to the snow. “The snow has caused tremendous damage,” he said.
Bashir Ahmad, an orchardist from Anantnag district of the south Kashmir said that branches of apple trees have broke down due to the snow. Similar reports were received from Budgam, Baramulla, Bandipora and other parts of the Valley.
“Authorities should compensate apple growers for their loss as it happened due to yesterday’s snowfall,” the orchardists said. (With inputs from Mudasir Maqbool, Sameer Ahmad)
