Srinagar/Jammu: Thousands of tons of apples are rotting in trucks stranded along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, as distressed farmers across Jammu and Kashmir protest and shut fruit markets in anger over the supply disruption.
The highway suffered severe damage following last month’s heavy rains and cloudbursts, particularly near Udhampur. Despite repair efforts, the crucial road link remains only partially operational, causing shortages of essential supplies and disrupting the transportation of horticulture produce.
Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, after speaking with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, said concrete measures would be taken within 24 hours to resolve the crisis. He also urged the Centre to hand over the highway to the state if restoration efforts falter.
Horticulture, especially apple cultivation, forms the backbone of Kashmir’s rural economy, producing roughly 80% of India’s apple supply. Farmers blamed the government for inaction and poor planning, pointing out that while the four-lane all-weather highway reduced travel time, it was built without adequate risk assessment for the region’s fragile terrain.
