Floods destroy over 55,000 kanals of farmland in IIOJK’s Islamabad
Srinagar: Torrential rains and flash floods that swept through south Kashmir between August 27 and September 3 have left Islamabad’s agricultural landscape in ruins, submerging fields, destroying standing crops and washing away irrigation infrastructure.
According to Kashmir Media Service, officials say that nearly 2,800 hectares, or more than 55,350 kanals, of farmland have been affected, with around 2,200 hectares of paddy cultivation bearing the heaviest losses.
The assessment is ongoing as teams move across the district to record the full scale of destruction, officials told The Kashmiriyat.
“Between August 27 and September 3, around 2,800 hectares (55,350 kanals) of agricultural land in the district suffered damage due to floods, and our assessment is still ongoing,” said Shahnazwaz Ahmed Sheh, Agricultural Officer while talking to the media.
“About 2,200 hectares of paddy cultivation has suffered damage, as per the ongoing assessment in Arwani, Bangidar, Jablipora and around 35 areas in total. Some are already registered in the Crop Insurance Scheme and many farmers are not. Our teams on the ground are assessing the losses. We request the farmers to give an assessment of losses to our officers, and nobody other than agricultural officers should be given information,” he added.
Vegetable belts, including Gund Chehl and Bangidar, along with maize crops in upper areas, have also suffered significant damage. In the lower reaches, paddy fields remained submerged for days, leading to losses of up to 100 percent in several locations.
Shahnazwaz Ahmed Sheh noted that the government had been approached regarding the losses and compensation would be provided according to official directions. “Overall, vegetable belts including GundChehl, Bangidar and other areas, maize crops have also suffered damage in upper areas and in lower areas, paddy fields remained submerged in water, which has caused damage up to 100 percent to the crop in several areas. We have taken up with the government and the government will compensate the losses as per government direction,” Sheh said.
