Farmers across Kashmir have decried inadequate compensation and the absence of a reliable safety net after a sudden hailstorm on April 6 battered dozens of villages, damaging apple blossoms and dashing the hopes of hundreds of farming families.

The storm affected more than 33 villages across Shopian, Kulgam and Bandipora districts, leaving a trail of destruction in key horticulture belts at a crucial stage of the crop cycle.

Farooq Ahmad, a farmer from Shopian, said the hailstorm lasted barely five to six minutes but caused significant damage in villages such as Kanjiulla, Sedow, Saidpora Payeen and Mandujan.

“It hit at a critical stage and damaged the apple blossom,” he said, adding that the short duration of the storm belied the scale of losses it inflicted.

Farmers said compensation provided in previous instances had been far below their actual losses. “Last year, affected farmers were given only ₹800 to ₹1,000,” said Bashir Ahmad, another farmer from Shopian, terming the relief amount insufficient to cover even basic input costs.

Similar weather events in recent years have compounded the distress of orchardists. In 2025, a hailstorm swept through several villages in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, destroying apple orchards and leaving many farmers with little to harvest.

Mohammad Ashraf Wani, president of the Fruit Mandi Shopian, said the absence of a robust safety net continues to expose growers to repeated losses. “We have long demanded the introduction of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, but nothing has been implemented so far,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government informed the Legislative Assembly during the last budget session that Agriculture Insurance Company of India and Tata AIG General Insurance have emerged as the lowest bidders for implementing the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) for apple and saffron crops in Jammu and Kashmir.

Replying to a starred question on crop insurance for apple growers, the government said the scheme has been extended to major horticulture crops and that the tendering process has been completed, with allotment of work to the selected firms underway.

It said four bids were received for apple and saffron crops in the Kashmir division and five for notified crops in the Jammu division. After evaluation, the two insurers were selected for three clusters in Kashmir — K1, K2 and K3 — and one cluster in Jammu (J1).

Under the scheme, apple and saffron crops in the Kashmir division and mango, litchi and saffron in Kishtwar district of the Jammu division will be covered through a weather-index model. The government said payouts would be linked to predefined weather parameters recorded at designated stations, enabling faster and more transparent claim settlement compared with conventional crop loss assessments.

However, farmers said the effectiveness of the scheme would depend entirely on its timely implementation, as recurring weather shocks continue to threaten livelihoods in Kashmir’s horticulture sector.

They reiterated that without adequate compensation mechanisms and a functional crop insurance system, orchardists remain vulnerable to sudden climatic events that can wipe out an entire season’s income within minutes.

Srinagar, Apr 10: A fire broke out at Jamia Ashraf-ul-Uloom, Hyderpora area of Srinagar on Friday, leaving two civilians and one fireman injured, officials said.

An official told news agency Kashmir News Corner — KNC that fire tenders were immediately rushed to the spot and firefighting operations were launched to douse the flames.

He said the blaze has now been brought under control.

During the operation, one fireman sustained injuries while battling the fire, while two civilians were also injured in the incident and were shifted for treatment. Their condition is being ascertained.

Officials said the cause of the fire is not known at this stage, while cognizance of the incident has been initiated.

Srinagar, Apr 10: In a major success against drug trafficking, Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested fourteen drug peddlers and recovered huge quantity of narcotic substances in multiple operations across the valley. Besides, a medical shop was sealed for violating mandatory requirements for sale of schedule H medicines in Kulgam.

In a statement issued, police said that in Anantnag, acting on a specific input, a raid was conducted at the residential house of Fayaz Ahmad Dar son of Mohd Jabbar Dar resident of Naina Gund Baba Khalil, Sangam after obtaining a search warrant from the Hon’ble Court. During the search, 3 kg 99 grams of charas powder-like substance was recovered. The accused Fayaz Ahmad Dar and his son Arbaz Ahmad Dar were arrested on the spot. In another operation, a police party from PP Sangam during naka checking at Naibasti Marhama intercepted a Hyundai i20 (JK13J-0803). Two individuals, Shahzada Suvaid son of Manzoor Ahmad Shah and Waris-ul-Islam son of Nazir Ahmad Shah, both residents of Batagund Tral, were found in possession of 488 grams of charas-like substance. Further, Police party from Police Station Anantnag during naka checking at Anantnag bypass near the overhead Danter bridge, intercepted Sajad Ahmad Shah son of Gh Rasool Shah resident of Hakhoora Badazgaam. During search, charas-like substance in the form of 07 sticks weighing 106 grams and powder weighing 88 grams was recovered.

Similarly in Kulgam, during naka checking at Furrah New Bypass, a police party from Police Post Mir Bazar apprehended a suspicious person identified as Danish Khurshid son of Khurshid Ahmad Nath resident of Redwani, Qoimoh Kulgam. During search, 110 grams of charas powder-like substance, 2 grams of heroin-like substance, and cash amounting to ₹22,000 were recovered. In another action, a police party from Police Post Mir Bazar during naka checking at Akhran apprehended a suspicious individual identified as Faruk Ali son of Sukur Ali resident of Jiggi No. 256, Block C, JJ Colony Bawana, North-West Delhi. During search, 63.31 grams of charas powder-like substance and 2.03 grams of heroin-like substance were recovered from his possession. In a separate case, acting on credible prior information, a police party from Police Station Qazigund at Kurigam Railway Bridge, arrested a drug peddler identified as identified as Abdul Qayoom Shah son of Mohd Subhan Shah resident of Shastargam, Dooru Anantnag. During search, 109 grams of charas concealed in corn husk was recovered. Accordingly, FIR No. 71/2026 was registered at P/S Qazigund. During further investigation, backward linkages were established. After obtaining the necessary warrant, police conducted searches in Sirhama, Anantnag, leading to the identification and involvement of Mohd Iqbal Rather son of Sanullah Rather resident of Sirhama Camp Colony, Anantnag and Mukhtar Ahmad Wagay son of Mohd Sultan Wagay resident of Wopzan, Hearpora, Anantnag. During search, 1.212 Kgs of charas was recovered, thereby exposing the supply chain involved in the narcotics network.

In Pulwama, a police party of Police Post Rahmoo, apprehended a suspicious individual identified as Ab Hameed Thoker son of Gh Ahmad Thoker resident of Thokerpora, who was carrying a nylon bag. During search, 6 kgs of semi crushed cannabis powder was recovered.

In Awantipora, a police team at a checkpoint established at Padgampora near Railway Station Awantipora, arrested two drug peddlers identified as Faizan Yousuf Ganie son of Mohd Yousuf Ganie, resident of Koil, Pulwama and Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi son of Bashir Ahmad Sofi, resident of Washbugh, Pulwama. During search, approximately 29 grams of a heroin-like substance was recovered from their possession.

Meanwhile in Sopore, a police team during patrolling at Brath Crossing, a suspicious individual was intercepted and apprehended. During search, Codeine Phosphate bottles and heroin-like substance were recovered from his possession. He has been identified as Shabir Ahmad Mir @ Jana son of Mohammad Sumadar Mir resident of Arampora Sopore.

Accordingly, cases under relevant sections of law have been registered at respective police stations and investigations are underway to ascertain the source and wider linkages involved, the statement said.

In a separate action, an extensive joint drive was conducted by Police Station Qaimoh in coordination with the Drug Department to check the sale of drugs, with particular focus on Schedule H medicines, by medical shops in the Qaimoh area. During the inspection, several medical shops were found violating prescribed norms, especially regarding maintenance of mandatory records and regulatory compliance. Accordingly, multiple establishments have been recommended for suspension of their licenses. Additionally, RH Medical Store was sealed on the spot for violating mandatory requirements for sale of Schedule H medicines, including failure to maintain proper records as per norms.

J&K Police reiterate their zero-tolerance policy against drug trafficking and reaffirm their commitment to sustained enforcement to safeguard youth and society from the menace of drugs, statement added.

Jammu, Apr 10: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged significant spatio-temporal changes in land use and water cover of the iconic Dal lake, pointing to a shrinkage of the water body from 15.40 square kilometres in 2007 to 12.91 square kilometres in 2020, registering a decline of 10.15 per cent in 13 years.

The CAG recommended a robust lake management policy to ensure effective functioning and upgrade of sewage treatment plants (STPs) to ensure proper treatment of sewage and solid waste entering the lake.

“It may be seen from data that during 2007-2020, there was a decrease from 15.40 to 12.91 square kilometres (10.15 per cent) in the water body with (respect to) submerged vegetation and open water of the lake, while there was increase in other land uses such as floating vegetation from 5.262 to 6.796 square kilometres (6.23 per cent), crop land and plantation from 2.29 to 2.85 square kilometres (2.27 per cent), and built-up from 0.743 to 1.025 square kilometres (1.15 per cent),” the report said.

The CAG report on conservation and management of lakes in the Union Territory for the year ended March 31, 2024, said there was a decrease in vacant land with or without vegetation from 0.40 to 0.36 square kilometres (0.17 per cent) due to dredging of some acquired land. The decrease in open water area was at the cost of other land use changes.

The CAG said the shifting land use pattern reflects growing pressure on the lake ecosystem, with shrinking open water and expanding human-induced activities altering its ecological balance.

The CAG observed that no concrete measures were taken by the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LC&MA) to regulate land use, nor were reasons for such changes adequately analysed.

Audit findings attributed the deterioration to non-acquisition of land from Dal lake dwellers, malfunctioning STPs, failure to arrest pollution inflows, improper de-weeding, and weak monitoring.

As a result, the inflow of nutrients increased, leading to excessive weed growth and further shrinkage of the lake’s open water area, the report said, adding that encroachments in areas such as Mir Behri, Lati Mohalla and Nandapora contributed to expansion of floating gardens and habitation.

The audit also flagged serious deficiencies in the implementation of conservation programmes under the National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP) and the Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Programme (PMRP).

“Key activities such as installation and upgradation of STPs, solid waste management, sewer networking, relocation of houseboats and hotels, catchment management, and rehabilitation of Dal dwellers were either delayed or inadequately executed,” the report stated.

Despite an expenditure of more than Rs 45 crore on STPs, the audit found that sewage was not treated as per prescribed standards, resulting in continued deterioration of water quality. “Untreated waste from households, houseboats and hotels continued to flow into the lake due to incomplete sewer networks and delays in connecting households and houseboats to treatment systems.”

The report further highlighted underutilisation of funds, ranging between Rs 48.63 crore and Rs 280.68 crore during 2017-22, and pointed to delays caused by stalled board meetings, lack of project management consultants, and failure to prepare detailed project reports for pending works.

Efforts to relocate Dal dwellers and houseboats also fell short, with only a fraction of targeted land and structures acquired and no significant dredging carried out on acquired land. Similarly, shifting of hotels and establishment of effective surveillance mechanisms remained incomplete, it added.

The CAG noted that catchment management works were inadequate, with only four out of 15 identified micro-watersheds taken up, also flagging shortcomings in structural and vegetative measures, training programmes and monitoring systems.

Describing the lake as the “liquid heart” of Srinagar, located at an altitude of 1,583 metres, the audit warned that continued delays and inadequate conservation efforts have hindered restoration of its water expanse and ecological health.

The CAG recommended periodic monitoring of water spread, a robust lake management policy, effective functioning of STPs, improved sewage and solid waste treatment, and expedited implementation of key conservation measures.

It also called for public awareness campaigns to curb unauthorised construction and better monitoring of nutrient inflows into the lake.

The audit said unless systemic gaps in planning, execution and monitoring are addressed, restoration of Dal lake’s shrinking water body would remain a challenge.

Srinagar, Apr 10: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday expressed relief over de-escalation of tensions in West Asia and called for lasting peace across the world.

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Dr Farooq said, “Thank God the war has stopped. I hope it remains stopped in the future as well, peace prevails in the world and we all benefit from it.”

Reacting to discussions around Pakistan’s mediation and calls for a Nobel Prize, he said, “I don’t see it. One works for Nobel Prize, one works for humanity. Those who demand a Nobel Prize, unfortunate. There is a better prize, which is the cause of humanity.”

Emphasizing the human cost of conflict, he added, “It is humanity that is suffering and it is humanity that must be saved.” (KNC)