SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Friday urged the authorities to promptly assess crop losses caused by Thursday’s hailstorm and provide adequate compensation to affected farmers and orchardists across parts of North and South Kashmir.
Bukhari expressed concern over damage to standing crops and orchards, particularly in parts of Sopore and Shopian, warning that losses to apple growers were especially distressing with the peak harvesting season approaching.
In a statement, he said the hailstorm had damaged crops in several villages, leaving orchardists facing losses just weeks before they were due to harvest their produce.
“The damage to apple crops is especially heartbreaking, as it comes just weeks before the peak harvesting season, when orchardists were preparing to reap the rewards of their hard work,” Bukhari said.
He also expressed grief over a fire at Sempora in Sopore, where an apple storage shed containing harvested fruit was gutted, causing substantial financial losses to the affected grower.
According to Bukhari, the fire was triggered by a short circuit in a power transformer amid rain and gusty winds.
Calling for urgent intervention, he said the authorities should assess the damage without delay and ensure that affected farmers and orchardists receive timely financial assistance to recover their losses and protect their livelihoods.
