Junaid Ali

Tral, May 4 : A sudden hailstorm, accompanied by heavy rainfall, struck various parts of Tral sub-district in South Kashmir on Sunday, causing significant damage to crops, particularly apple orchards in their blooming season.

The areas of Machama, Bagandar, Syeadabad, and Aripal were the worst affected. According to eyewitnesses, the hailstorm lasted for around 30 minutes, with the size of the hailstones causing serious concerns.

Apple orchards, which are crucial to the local economy, bore the brunt of the storm as the blossoms were severely damaged, threatening the upcoming harvest.

Farmers said as per Kashmir Bulletin, that the timing of the hailstorm was particularly unfortunate, as the apple trees were in the critical blooming phase.

Local residents and farmers have said that the storm also caused harm to other crops, including vegetables and saffron fields, further compounding the situation.

Many of them are still assessing the extent of the damage, and initial reports suggest that the financial losses could be substantial.