A severe hailstorm has caused extensive damage to fruit orchards and paddy crops in Pattan, a region within the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. The unseasonal weather event struck during the crucial harvesting period, leaving farmers facing significant financial losses.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the hailstorm lashed several areas including Goom Ahmadpora and Khongamdara, flattening fields that were ready for harvest and destroying fruit on the trees. Local farmers have described the damage as devastating, with many reporting that months of hard work have been wiped out in a matter of minutes. The affected crops include apples, which are a primary source of livelihood for many in the region, as well as paddy fields.
The extent of the damage has prompted concern among agricultural authorities. The Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Pattan, Javed Riyaz Bedar, visited the affected areas to assess the situation firsthand. He met with farmers and Horticulture Department officials to understand the scale of the loss.
MLA Bedar assured the affected growers that a comprehensive assessment of the damage would be conducted. He stated that compensation would be provided to the farmers in accordance with applicable government rules and guidelines. Discussions have been held with the Minister for Agriculture and Horticulture, who has assured that the government will provide all possible assistance within the framework of existing policies.
The Revenue Department has also been alerted and has commenced its own surveys of the affected lands. These assessments are crucial for determining the quantum of loss and facilitating the compensation process. Farmers have expressed their distress, highlighting that the horticultural sector is the backbone of Kashmir’s economy and that such natural calamities pose a severe threat to their livelihoods.
The incident has reignited calls for crop insurance schemes to protect farmers from unforeseen weather events. While discussions about such measures have taken place previously, growers are now emphasizing the urgent need for their implementation to provide a safety net against unpredictable weather patterns, which have become more frequent in recent years. The volatile weather, characterized by sudden cloudbursts and extreme temperatures, has been a growing concern for the agricultural community in Jammu and Kashmir.
This hailstorm is not an isolated incident in the region. Similar events have caused substantial damage to orchards in various parts of north and south Kashmir in the past, underscoring the vulnerability of the agricultural sector to extreme weather. The intensity of the recent hailstorm has been described by some as unprecedented for this time of year, adding to the farmers’ woes as they face significant economic setbacks.
The Chenab Times News Desk