Storm damages apple crop in Mandi

Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 17

The storm caused considerable damage to the apple crop in Seraj area in Mandi district on Sunday, and has put the orchardists in distress. The apple crop in the region was ready for harvesting, but the sudden change in weather and strong winds damaged the orchards in the area.

Govind, Tilak Raj and many other apple orchardists from Seraj said under Gatu panchayat, the storm had damaged 90 per cent of the crop. The maximum damage was caused to the crop in the nearby panchayats of Jhred and Bagdanath, affecting the livelihood of apple orchardists in the region.

They said the state government should help the affected farmers as they were dependent on apple cultivation for income.

The Horticulture Department officials at Mandi have constituted a team to assess the loss and send a report to the state government for providing compensation to the affected farmers.