Srinagar, Aug. 6 -- Srinagar- Just when apple growers believed they had weathered the worst of this year's climate-related challenges, strong gusty winds accompanied by heavy rainfall dealt another severe blow, ravaging orchards across parts of south Kashmir's Shopian district on Thursday.

The untimely weather struck several villages, including Mantribugh, Hermain, Kachdura and Kaprin in the Zainapora constituency, damaging apple orchards at a critical stage when the fruit was nearing maturity and growers were preparing for the harvest.

Hundreds of orchardists reported that large quantities of apples were blown off trees while fruit-laden branches snapped under the force of the winds, wiping out months of labour and investment within a ...