Early Times Report
Samba, Apr 8: The Kashmir Valley will have bright, sunny days ahead, the Met Office said on Wednesday, bringing cheer to thousands of farmers and orchardists here witnessing heavy rainfall for weeks.
"We are expecting sunny days from tomorrow (Thursday) in the valley as the present wet spell will settle down today," the weatherman said here.
The official said the valley will experience sunshine briefly on Wednesday as well.
The sunshine comes as relief after a fortnight of incessant rainfall destroyed the Rabi crop and fruit crop in the valley.
"Most of the mustard crop that was in bloom has been damaged in our area," said Manzoor Hajam, 27, of south Kashmir Anantnag district.
Hajam also said that water logging inside the mustard fields damaged the Rabi crop in his area. Orchardists have been complaining that rain and chill have damaged apple, cherry and almond and apricot crops here. "Fruit trees in bloom have been damaged due to chill and rain. The delicate flowers have suffered severe damage that will adversely affect this year's production", said Mushtaq Ahmad Bacha, 43, an orchardist in north Kashmir apple-rich town of Sopore. The minimum temperature was 8.8 degrees Celsius in Srinagar city on Wednesday. It was 4.0 in Pahalgam, 0.6 in Gulmarg, 1.1 in Leh town, 15.2 in Jammu city and 12.7 degrees in Katra town, the base camp of the Mata Vaishnoo Devi Shrine in Reasi district.
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