(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared stark details Saturday about the devastating floods that have hammered the region. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, he painted a grim picture of the destruction, especially during the Kishtwar and Katra yatras. Lives were lost, properties wiped out, and infrastructure took a brutal hit—over 330 bridges swept away, more than 1,500 kilometers of roads ruined, government buildings damaged, and crops including prized dry fruits completely destroyed.
Abdullah looks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for help. He hopes Modi’s reported upcoming visit will bring a solid relief package to rebuild. “We’re counting on the central government to step up and analyze our losses,” Abdullah said. “I’ll lay out all these issues to the PM and push for strong support for J&K’s people.”
The floods in Jammu and Kashmir have hit hard across sectors, but the apple industry in Kashmir feels the pain most acutely. Earlier this week, BJP leader Ravinder Raina visited the fruit market in Pulwama and voiced deep worries for growers and traders. Torrential rains, flash floods, and landslides have crushed livelihoods, leaving thousands of farmers who rely on apple cultivation in dire straits.
Raina pointed out the chaos: nearly 500,000 crates of apples sitting unsold in Pulwama alone. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, battered by massive landslides, shut down for days and blocked vital transport. “Apples couldn’t make it to markets outside the Valley, causing huge losses for Kashmir apple traders,” he said. He praised the National Highway Authority of India for rushing to reopen the route but stressed the damage was done.
Calling for urgent action, Raina urged the administration to rally behind the traders. “Now’s the time to stand with them—prepare a compensation report, assess the losses right away,” he added. He also pushed for bigger relief, like waiving loans under the Kisan Credit Card scheme that farmers took for their orchards. “That’s crucial to get them back on their feet.”
This month’s heavy rains and flash floods in Jammu and Kashmir have wrecked crops, orchards, and transport links. Traders fear ongoing disruptions could derail the entire apple season, piling on more financial woes for the region.
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