Raja Akbar

Kupwara May 14:(KNS)  Intensive Hail Storm wreaked havoc in villages of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, causing huge damage to apple orchards and walnut trees.

The hailstorm on Friday caused extensive damage to orchards and walnut trees in many villages of Kupwara district, including, Handwara, Langate, Mawer, and Qaziabad. 

The hailstorm which continued for several minutes damaged crops and walnut trees as well, causing huge damage to the farmers and growers. 

While speaking to Dir Horticulture, Aijaz Ah Bhat, he told to KNS, as soon we get reports of ahailstorm from Handwara, Langate and other areas we instructed teams of the district to visit affected areas and do assess damages and provide necessary advisory with following covid19 SoPs. 

Director Horticulture expressed sympathy with the farmers and orchardists and said the fresh advisory has been issued in view him recent hailstorm. The teams have been directed to asses the loss he added. 

Meanwhile, DDC Mawer, Khursheed Ah Dar, PDP senior leader, G N Panditpori also urged LG administration to announce compensation for the affected farmers. 

Meanwhile, the farmers and growers appealed to the government to provide compensation to them.(KNS)