Shimla, April 18: High-velocity winds and hailstones battered parts of Shimla and Kinnaur districts late Thursday night, inflicting heavy damage on apple and stone fruit orchards. In addition to the agricultural loss, several homes and vehicles sustained severe damage in the storm.
“The storm caused considerable destruction in multiple areas. Fruit-laden trees have been uprooted, houses damaged, and vehicles crushed under fallen debris,” said Jagat Singh Negi, Revenue and Horticulture Minister. “We will assess the damage caused by the storm.”
Orchards in Kotgarh, which had shown a promising fruit set this season after two years of poor yields, were among the worst-hit. “Most of the fruit has fallen off. The trees are nearly bare now. All our effort this year has gone waste,” said a local grower.
The Santa Rosa variety of plum has taken a severe hit, according to Deepak Singha, president of the Stone Fruit Growers Association. “Plum orchards, particularly those with the Santa Rosa variety, have suffered extensive damage across the state. This variety is highly vulnerable to hailstorms,” Singha said. He noted that stone fruits like plum, cherry and apricot comprise nearly 10 percent of Himachal Pradesh’s overall fruit economy.
Apple orchards have also borne the brunt of the storm, especially in the Rampur region. In the Nankhari area, several high-density apple plantations were flattened. Growers reported torn anti-hail nets, snapped bamboo supports, and scattered fruit.
“Several apple farmers have suffered major losses in the core apple-growing belt. The government must act swiftly to provide relief,” said Harish Chauhan, president of the Fruit, Vegetables and Flowers Growers Association.
Urban areas weren’t spared either. In Shimla, multiple vehicles were damaged after trees collapsed on them. Some residents were left without shelter as rooftops were blown off in strong winds.
As officials begin the process of surveying the damage, growers are urging authorities to expedite compensation measures.
