Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Kashmir’s Apple Supply Chain
A torrential downpour in the Himalayan region has triggered a devastating landslide, cutting off the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for weeks. This critical infrastructure, which serves as the primary route for transporting Kashmir’s apple harvest to Indian markets, has been left impassable. The situation has resulted in thousands of tons of fruit rotting in fields and along the roadway, with farmers unable to access their markets.
The Himalayan region is a key supplier of apples to India, with the annual harvest accounting for a substantial portion of the country’s fruit supply. The blockage of the highway has not only caused a direct economic loss for farmers but has also raised concerns about the availability of fresh apples in Indian markets. While the Indian government has acknowledged the crisis, it has yet to announce plans for immediate relief or intervention.
The affected region is now grappling with the aftermath of the disaster, with no immediate prospects for the highway to be reopened. The rotting apples along the roadside are a stark reminder of the devastating impact of natural disasters on agriculture. The situation highlights the vulnerability of supply chains in mountainous regions and the need for improved disaster preparedness and infrastructure development.