Hailstorm damages property worth Rs 2.58 Cr in Bandipora


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Mir Tariq Bandipora, May 23: The hailstorm and strong winds that lashed Bandipora last night has caused widespread damage to orchards and residential structures. According to revenue department, property worth Rs 2.58 crore was damaged in the hailstorm.
In 65 villages, 29 residential buildings, 10 non-residential buildings and a cowshed were partially damaged by the hailstorm. The most affected villages include Madar, Lawaypora, Gund dachina, Panzigam, Arin, Braar, Aloosa and Aythmullah.The storm has affected around 7382 kanals of orchard land. “The paddy land of 10,000 kanal was also damaged by the hailstorm and heavy rainfall”, an official statement said. The hailstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall is estimated to have damaged 90 per cent of orchards in this belt. The hour long hail storm and strong winds caused extensive damage to the orchard of this newly created North Kashmir district. People remain confined to roads as the hailstorm and heavy rains forced them to seek refuge in shops and bus stands. The standing apple trees in the orchards suffered extensive damage in the storm. “The apple trees were been badly hit and the flowers have fallen off from the trees. 30 per cent of our fields have suffered damage,” said the villagers, adding, “The strong rain and hailstorm affected the flowering very badly”. Apple is an important cash crop of this newly created district. Bandipora produces an average of 3.5 metric tones of apples every year. The unpredictable weather has cast its shadow over the produce this year and the yield is expected to be on lower side this year.All the inner as well as main roads were damaged by the rain waters. The rain water also seeped into some structures, causing damage to them. Besides, the rolling of boulders from the nearby hillocks halted vehicular traffic for an hour."Our houses are full of water as the rainwater entered our houses," alleged locals.They blamed municipal authorities for the mess. “The Municipal authorities are not clearing drains in the area and due to blockade of drains, rain water entered into our houses,” they said.People were seen dewatering the premises of their homes, which were filled with the rain water.Talking to Rising Kashmir, Ghulam Ahmed Khan Magistrate Bandipora said "We have sent revenue officials to every affected village to ascertain the losses cause by storm to prepare case of compensation”. "We are informing all the victims to approach the department so that compensation process is started as early as possible," added Khan.