ibn sultan
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.
