Srinagar, Sept. 16 -- Kashmir's prized apple industry is once again reeling from severe disruptions on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the Valley's primary lifeline to the rest of the country.

In a statement issued, Jammu & Kashmir State Head of the All India Professionals' Congress (AIPC), Sanjay Sapru, termed the recurring crisis "heart-wrenching" and expressed deep concern over its impact on local farmers.

"In parts of south Kashmir, farmers are being forced to destroy their apple crop due to the highway mess and the authorities' failure to restore proper connectivity," Sapru said. "This raises serious questions about the administration's sense of responsibility and commitment towards its duties."

The apple industry, valued at nearly ?1...