Ongoing closure of Srinagar-Jammu Highway sparks crisis for Kashmir’s fruit trade
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the ongoing closure of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway for the sixth consecutive day has plunged the Kashmir Valley’s fruit industry into a severe crisis, triggering fears of massive financial losses during the peak harvest season.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the highway, the sole road link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of the world, has remained shut due to extensive road damage caused by multiple landslides triggered by heavy rainfall.
Traders and growers have issued urgent alarms, estimating potential losses running into crores of rupees if the vital arterial route is not reopened immediately.
Fayaz Ahmad Malik, President of the Fruit Mandi in Sopore, the Valley’s largest wholesale fruit market, expressed grave concern over the situation. “Approximately 300 to 400 trucks laden with pears and other early-season fruit are currently stranded on the highway. Further delays could result in massive losses. This industry sustains lakhs of people, and perishable produce cannot be held indefinitely,” he stated.
While Malik acknowledged the hardship faced by communities affected by flooding in Jammu, he emphasized that the prolonged blockade is severely damaging Kashmir’s horticulture sector.
“Our orchards are ripe, the mandis are overflowing, and trucks have been immobilized for days. If this continues, it is the small-scale growers and traders who will bear the brunt. Horticulture is the backbone of our economy, and it is now under serious threat,” Malik added.
Critical early varieties such as Bagogosha pears, Galamast, and Red Ghala apples remain stranded, unable to reach markets outside the Valley. Meanwhile, vast quantities of unharvested produce sit in orchards across key growing regions like Sopore, Shopian, Pulwama, and Srinagar.
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