Nearly 45 percent of fruit and paddy crops have suffered damage due to the recent hailstorm that hit areas of Sopore and Handwara in northern Kashmir. The town of Sopore has suffered around 35 percent damage to fruit and paddy crops, according to officials. Preliminary assessments say that some 7 to 9 percent of fruit crop and 15 to 25 percent paddy crop has been damaged in the hail storm that hit areas of Handwara in the Kupwara district. In Sopore, Goomahmadpora, Kitchilora, Waripora, Lalpora, Malmu, Agrikalan, Dangerpora, Noripora, Malbuchan, Tunjihearan, Tantrepora, Kongamdara, Nowlari areas were badly affected by the hailstorm. “More than 35 percent damage has been caused to the crops in these areas. Mostly apples were affected by the hailstorm,” Chief Agricultural Officer Sopore, Farooq Ahmad told. Source - http://www.freshplaza.com