Natural Disasters, Political Finger-Pointing, and the Plight of Fruit Growers
I Ahmed Wani
In the fragile Himalayan ecosystem of Jammu and Kashmir, nature’s fury has once again unleashed devastation. Torrential rains, cloudbursts, and landslides have ravaged the region since early August 2025, claiming lives, disrupting pilgrimages, and crippling the vital National Highway 44 (NH-44), the only all-weather lifeline connecting the landlocked Kashmir Valley to the rest of India. As of September 17, 2025, the highway remains intermittently blocked, stranding thousands of vehicles and causing widespread economic fallout, particularly during the apple harvest season. Yet, amid the rubble and ruined produce, a familiar narrative emerges: accusations from valley-based political leaders that Delhi and the BJP-led central government are orchestrating these disruptions as a deliberate ploy to economically strangle Kashmir. This blame game, while politically charged, overlooks decades of local governance failures and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure.
The disasters began with a series of cloudbursts at sacred sites, underscoring the human toll. On August 14, a massive cloudburst struck Chosoti village in Kishtwar district, en route to the revered Machail Mata temple, a key Hindu pilgrimage site. The flash floods killed at least 68 people, injured over 300, and left 38 missing, with pilgrims gathered for the annual yatra bearing the brunt of the casualties. The yatra, which started on July 25 and was set to conclude on September 5, saw hundreds of devotees, predominantly from the Hindu community, swept away while at a community langar. Rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indian Army, and local volunteers were hampered by cloudy weather, but Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced ₹209 crore in immediate relief from the State Disaster Response Fund.
Similarly, in Katra, the base for the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, a landslide on August 29 claimed 31 lives and injured 20, suspending the pilgrimage for days. Heavy rains triggered boulders and mudslides along the trek route, turning the path into a scene of devastation. These incidents, occurring in Hindu-majority pilgrimage areas, resulted in disproportionate casualties from that community, highlighting the vulnerability of religious tourism in the region.
The Udhampore stretch of NH-44, a 300-meter critical section, eroded completely by late August due to flash floods, worsening the crisis. By September 2, the 270-km highway was suspended for traffic amid mudslides and shooting stones between Samroli and Banihal, stranding over 2,000 vehicles, including fruit-laden trucks. The Meteorological Department warned of continued heavy rainfall, with Kathua recording 25.2 mm in 24 hours, swelling rivers like the Tawi and Chenab to near danger levels. These blockages are not new; the highway, prone to landslides due to its terrain, has closed multiple times this monsoon, but the timing during peak apple harvest has amplified the economic damage.
Kashmir’s horticulture sector, which contributes over 10% to the region’s GDP and employs millions, is reeling. Apples alone account for 80% of fruit production, with an estimated 2025 harvest of 8–9 lakh metric tonnes. Trucks laden with early varieties like Hard Cash and Roman Beauty have been stuck for days, causing produce to rot on roadsides. Fruit markets in Anantnag, Pulwama, and Srinagar shut down on September 15 in protest, with growers reporting losses of crores. Videos circulating on social media show stacks of rotting apples, fueling outrage. “Our patience is running thin. Trucks laden with apple produce are rotting in front of our eyes. It’s not nature’s fury but a man-made disaster,” said a protester in Jablipora, Anantnag.
Political leaders from the valley, particularly from the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have swiftly pointed fingers at Delhi. They accuse the BJP government of deliberate neglect or sabotage to mount economic pressure on Kashmir, especially during harvest season. PDP leader Iltija Mufti claimed the NC government’s “apathy” indicates collusion with private companies eyeing the apple industry. PDP President Mehbooba Mufti demanded a probe into unutilized 2014 flood relief funds worth thousands of crores and urged a dedicated Kashmir-Delhi train service for fruit transport, warning that rotting produce could “expose the region to more devastating floods in the future.” She highlighted annual losses due to NH-44 closures: “Fruit growers have been facing severe financial losses every year… It will be disastrous for the UT if the fruits rot.”
Peoples Democratic Front President Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen echoed this, blaming the neglect of cold storage facilities on successive governments, costing farmers crores. “If urgent measures are not taken, not only the fruit industry but the entire economy of Kashmir will suffer irreparable damage,” he warned. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, from the NC, has criticized the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for failing to stabilize the road and called for handing over highway maintenance to the state government. In a recent initiative, Abdullah launched special railway cargo coaches for apple transport, a move applauded by the Jammu and Kashmir Fruits & Vegetable Processing & Integrated Cold Chain Association (JKPICCA). “This is a ray of hope for fruit growers… The Chief Minister’s timely intervention reflects his commitment,” said JKPICCA Vice President Mohammad Arif Mir.
However, these accusations of deliberate sabotage by the BJP lack substantiation and smack of political opportunism. For over 70 years, NC and Congress dominated Kashmir’s politics, with PDP joining later coalitions. During their tenures, critical infrastructure gaps persisted.
Question one: Have they created enough cold storages along NH-44? The answer is a resounding no. Kashmir’s current capacity is a mere 4 lakh metric tonnes against a need for over 10 lakh, with only 85 units mostly in Pulwama and Shopian. Despite subsidies under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) offering 50% aid for Controlled Atmosphere units, implementation has been sluggish. Growers are rushing for early bookings, but demand far exceeds supply, forcing distress sales or spoilage.
Question two: Alternate all-weather roads for a landlocked valley? Again, no substantial progress. Proposals for tunnels or bypasses have languished, leaving growers at the mercy of NH-44’s fragility.
Question three: Community-based cold storages in villages to extend fruit life? Neglected entirely. While 11 new facilities were planned in 2023 at ₹512 crore, progress is slow, and rural areas remain underserved.
Question four: With NC-Congress coalitions in power historically, why no damage assessments and relief for growers? Funds from past disasters, like the 2014 floods, remain unspent, as Mufti herself noted. Immediate relief is piecemeal, with no comprehensive package announced yet for 2025 losses.
Question five: Why aren’t fruit trucks insured mandatorily by traffic police? This oversight leaves growers uncompensated, revealing a lack of political will.
These parties incentivized converting paddy fields to orchards, boosting production without marketing strategies or relief mechanisms. As one grower lamented on social media, “They encouraged horticulture for votes, but when produce rots, it’s Delhi’s fault.” The central government, under BJP, has invested in NH-44 widening and Z-Morh tunnel projects, but local leaders’ blame game diverts from their own accountability.
Kashmir’s people are no longer bewakoof (fools); they see through hollow slogans. Leaders like those in NC, Congress, and PDP prioritize legacies over solutions, perpetuating a cycle of dependency and division. True progress demands accountability at all levels—building resilient infrastructure, ensuring insurance, and fostering unity beyond politics. Only then can Kashmir’s fruits, and its future, thrive.
