SRINAGAR: Heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds and hailstorms on Wednesday caused widespread damage in parts of Pulwama and Shopian districts, with apple orchards in Keegam and adjoining areas of Shopian bearing the brunt of the adverse weather conditions.
In Shopian’s Keegam area, horticulture crops were severely affected as hail and strong winds damaged standing apple orchards. A Chinar tree was also uprooted and fell on a mosque in Keegam, causing structural damage.
In a separate incident, intense rainfall triggered a cloudburst-like situation in Kungposh Colony of Sirhama, leading to flash floods that inundated orchards and agricultural land. The sudden surge of water caused extensive crop damage, leaving fruit growers worried over significant financial losses and raising concerns about the vulnerability of the region’s horticulture sector to extreme weather events.
Local authorities are assessing the extent of damage in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar has forecast a prolonged spell of unsettled weather across Jammu and Kashmir over the next five days, warning of possible hailstorms, flash floods and mudslides at isolated vulnerable locations. Intermittent rain, thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are expected across the Union Territory.
