Hailstorm damages apple orchards, standing crop in Rafiabad
Sopore: Heavy rains coupled with hailstorm lashed several villages of Rafiabad in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday evening causing widespread damage to apple orchards and standing crops.
Reports and witnesses said that apple orchards and standing crops in various areas in upper and lower belt of Rafiabad got affected due to heavy rains followed by hailstorm incurring losses to the farmers.
The local residents said that rains and hailstorm which was very intense resulted in heavy loss to the standing crops and early varieties of fruits in Rafiabad villages.
Meanwhile, president fruit growers and dealers association fruit Mandi apple town Sopore Fayaz Ahmad Malik alias Kaka Ji urged the LG led administration to offer compensation to the poor farmers whose crops and orchards were damaged since the past month as rains and hailstorm has created havoc in many villages.