BUDGAM: Hailstorm, which occurred in many areas of Central Kashmir’s Budgam and North Kashmir’s Baramulla districts on Wednesday evening, has caused extensive damage to crop, fruit and paddy.
Scores of villages of Beerwah, Budgam and Sonawari, Sumbal have been affected.
“Initially the hailstorm occurred in many villages of Charar-e-Sharief Tehsil, however the hamlets of Beerwah particularly at Khanpura, Amandar Chak, Shunglipora, Kokar Bagh, Khag, Pathipora and Sujan have also been affected. It has resulted in massive damage to rice, maize, apple and pear crop,” farmers told a local news agency, CNS.
“The crop which was ripe has almost been destroyed.”
The MLA from Beerwah, Dr Muhammad Shafi Wani told the news agency that residents of the villages were poverty stricken and could not afford such loss.
“I have appealed to the state Government for relief provide ex-gratia to the affected farmers and also provide free ration for them,” he said.
The farmers have also appealed to the district administration to assess damages due to hailstorm and have demanded immediate relief for them.
