Srinagar: Flash floods have devastated thousands of acres of standing paddy — primarily rice and apple crops — across four southern districts of Kashmir, leaving farmers facing losses worth hundreds of crores.
The Jhelum River, swollen by relentless rains and cloudbursts, inundated rice fields in several areas of Anantnag and Pulwama districts.
“We were preparing to harvest the paddy by the end of this month. The crop was abundant, but everything has been destroyed by floods… the entire year’s hard work has gone down the drain,” said Mohammad Younis, a farmer from Shamsipora in Anantnag.
Younis added that the situation was similar across Anantnag, Pulwama, and parts of Kulgam — the key rice-producing region of south Kashmir. “Most of the rice here comes from these districts. Local farmers are devastated as they have lost their livelihoods this season.”
Standing crops in Tachoo, Dooru, Shamsipora, Muniwar, Lallipora, and Mallapora in Anantnag and Kulgam, as well as Kakapora and Newa in Pulwama, have been damaged. Some areas of Budgam adjoining Pulwama also suffered losses.
The horticulture sector has been severely affected as well. Orchards in Dachnipora, Anantnag, have been washed away. “Apple trees in Sallar, Srigufwara, Kullar, and other villages along the Lidder stream have been damaged, while new orchards in Pulwama’s low-lying areas have also been affected,” said a horticulture department official. Significant damage to apple crops has also been reported in Shopian and Kulgam districts.
While farmers estimate losses in the hundreds of crores, officials said it will take time to assess the full extent of the damage. “People are still recovering from the floods. Field officials will visit affected areas starting tomorrow to carry out loss assessments,” a senior official from Anantnag said.
Heavy rains in the last week of August pushed the Jhelum’s water level to more than 27 feet, two feet above the flood threshold. The river overflowed its embankments in several parts of south Kashmir, and a breach in Budgam inundated large areas of central Kashmir, including Srinagar.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has requested the Centre to announce a relief package for flood victims after assessing losses across Jammu division and the Kashmir Valley.
