SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Frequent rains, hailstorms and gusty winds have left Valley farmers in dire straits, as orchards in Shopian, Kulgam, Kupwara, Baramulla and Budgam districts suffered great damages, approximate about 30 per cent to 40 per cent. On April 24, thunderstorm along with massive hailstorm occurred at many places of North Kashmir, which wreaked havoc in many villages of Baramulla and Kupwara district causing damage to apple orchards and walnut trees.
Hailstorm lasted for about 8 minutes which resulted in heavy damage to apple, walnuts, cherry and vegetable at numerous villages including Puthwari, Nowgam, Reshwari, Yahama, Mawerbala, Lawoosa, Qalamabad, Audoora, Shatgundbala and Drangsoo. Again on April 26, another strong hailstorm hit parts of Srinagar, including Tangmarg and Gulmarg. In Tangmarg, the hailstorm was witnessed for about 5 to 7 minutes while it lasted for more than 10 minutes in Gulmarg, which caused damage to standing crops and orchards.
Another hailstorm within two days in South Kashmir damaged apple fruit and buds in about a dozen of villages. Orchardists said that hailstorm lasted for around 25 minutes in afternoon and damaged 50 to 80 percent of the apple crop in. The villages which were affected due to the hailstorm include Kapran, Vehil, Chak Nowgam, Chak Kachdoora, Kanjiullar, Dangam, Wangam, Pandushan and other adjoining areas.
The dry spell in March and first week of April has already caused problems for fruit-growers. March, which is usually considered wettest month, saw very few spells of rain this year. Experts believe the current dry spell is a result of global warming. “The dry spell and then untimely heavy rains with thunderstorms and hailstorm is caused by global warming and Kashmir is also witnessing the same effect,” said an officer of Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural sciences and Technology.
A horticulture official said that the department is constituting a team to access extent of losses. DG Horticulture also shared few pictures showing how the hailstorm had caused damage to orchards at different places. Meanwhile, as per forecast issued by Meteorological (MeT) Department for next 24 hours, a brief spell of rain/thunderstorms may occur at some pockets and there is no forecast of any major rain spell for next few days.