Srinagar: Orchardists in Kulgam have demanded compensation and implementation of crop insurance scheme after a hailstorm yesterday inflicted huge losses to apple growers in the southern district.

On Wednesday, heavy hailstorm accompanied by heavy rains hit most of the areas of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district causing extensive damage to apple blossoms.

Former MLA and senior Natonal Conference leader Abdul Majeed Larmi on Thursday expressed concern over the heavy damage caused to orchards due to hailstorm in Kulgam district.

Regretting the damage caused to the fruit orchards due to the hailstorms, Larmi said that most of the villages in the southern district particularly in Homeshalibugh and Noorabad have suffered losses and the Governor led administration must come to their rescue.

Another National Conference leader Advocate Reyaz Ahmad Khan also expressed concern over the damage caused to orchards. Khan appealed administration to seriously assess and evaluate the damage suffered by the orchardist community and accordingly compensate it.

Meanwhile, Larmi condemned the security forces action by smashing of windowpanes of several vehicles and breaking of windowpanes of many houses in Qaimoh and other parts on poll day in Kulgam on April 29