Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, May 21: Unseasonal rains and hailstorm last night have damaged standing crops and fruit in the thousands of acres of land thus subjecting the farming community to a heavy loss.
Jaswant Singh, Khem Raj and Madan Lal, farmers of Panchari block in Udhampur District said that with the unseasonal rains and hailstorm during last night, 30 to 40 percent standing wheat crop and fruit of apple, apricot, peach, walnut, Jujube etc suffered losses. At Panjar, Lower Mir, Upper Mir, Suman, Chulna, and Moungri in block Panchari, thousands of acres of fruit farming and wheat crops have been destroyed, they said, adding that the farmers who were dependent on agriculture produce only have been put to a heavy loss.
Farmers Sukhdev Singh, Rasal Singh, Shamsher Singh and Jarnail Singh have appealed to the district administration Udhampur to assess the damages and submit a report to Government so that suitable compensation is provided to farming community. They also appealed to the Lieutenant Governor that farmers’ loans be waived off.