“The hailstorm started at 3:00 pm leaving a layer of white icy stones on the ground. Blossoming fruit orchards and vegetables suffered extensive damage due to the storm,” Mohammed Ramzan an apple orchardist said.
The fruit industry is the main stay of economy in north Kashmir.
Orchardists said that the storm knocked down the apple, pear and cherry blossoms to the ground.
They said paddy sapling and vegetable crop were also damaged due to hailstorm followed by heavy rains.
