In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, more than one thousand trucks loaded with apples and pears worth crores of rupees have been stranded due to the week-long closure of the Srinagar–Jammu highway, causing huge losses to Kashmiri fruit growers. The closure follows heavy rains that triggered landslides and mudslides between Jakhaini and Chenani in Udhampur district, leaving the crucial highway cut off for days.

The blockade has come at the peak of the apple and pear harvesting season, with each truck carrying fruit valued between Rs 5 to 10 lakh. Growers and traders fear that prolonged delays will not only cause massive financial losses but also damage the highly perishable produce. The Srinagar–Jammu highway is the only all-weather road link between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of the world.

Its frequent closures due to landslides, poor maintenance, and administrative restrictions often leave Kashmiri fruit growers, who contribute significantly to the territory’s economy, at the mercy of uncertain road connectivity. Such disruptions, especially during harvest season, severely affect the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on horticulture.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)