In Ladakh, the picturesque apricot blossoms that brought joy and festivity to Ladakh just days ago have now given way to heartbreak and hardship for local farmers, as unseasonal heavy snowfall and rainfall battered orchards across the Kargil district, causing widespread destruction and economic despair. Villages in Ladakh have reported severe crop damage.
Our correspondent reported that farmers who had nurtured their orchards are facing losses. Unpredictable weather patterns and calamities in the region serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need to address climate vulnerability in Ladakh.
In Ladakh, long-term measures to support climate-resilient agriculture are required, as the aftermath of unpredictable weather highlights the fragility of rural livelihoods in the region.
Heavy snow and relentless rainfall brought unexpected devastation to orchards and farm fields, severely hitting apple and apricot cultivation in villages like Hardass, Chanigund, Karkitchoo, and Badgam. Farmers across these areas are staring at major financial losses, as the untimely weather event has wiped out much of their seasonal yield.
The Meteorological Department had already issued a red-level weather alert, warning of significant rain and snowfall across the union territory. The warnings proved accurate, with the downpour beginning on April 19 and quickly disrupting the region’s fragile infrastructure.