Hailstorm lashes Shopian villages, damages apple farms

Shopian, Apr 18 : An intense hailstorm on Friday evening lashed several villages of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, causing significant damage to hundreds of  apple farms.

The hailstorm hit multiple apple-rich  villages  in the district including Kellar, Balpora, Shirmal,  Gatipora, Kanipora, Wathoo, Pinjoora,  Poshpora, Pahnoo, Aglar, Trenz, Imamsahab and many other villages.

The farmers from Kellar area told Greater Kashmir  that the hailstorm lasted for more than seven  minutes, causing huge  damage to apple farms in the area.

Mohammad Ashraf Wani, President Fruit Mandi Shopian and a well-heeled orchardist from the district said that hail pellets caused significant damage to apple farms.

He said that the fruit was in the flowering stage and the hailstorm spelt doom for the blossom.

Wani said that the actual loss could be assessed at this stage.

Ishfaq Ahamd Sheikh, an apple cultivator from Poshpora village said that pea-sized hailstones pelleted the area for around 10 minutes, causing substantial damage to the apple farms.

"Hailstones formed a white crust on the ground, as if it had snowed." Ishfaq said.

He said that in many areas petal fall was yet to be completed.

"The blossom stage is critical for fruit setting, any widespread damage can significantly affect the season’s overall output", Ishfaq said.

Last year, multiple spells of hailstorm caused huge devastation in apple orchards across south Kashmir.