Danishwar Hameed
In September 2024, a severe hailstorm struck Kulgam, causing significant damage to orchards across the district. A total of 3.5 crores has been released to provide relief to the 12000 farmers affected by the natural disaster. The financial assistance was allocated based on land records and the extent of the damage caused by the hailstorm.
The hailstorm impacted 35 villages in Kulgam, affecting around 12,000 registered beneficiaries. As of now, 9,000 of these beneficiaries have successfully received the financial aid credited directly in their accounts. However, 3,000 beneficiaries are still awaiting their payments, which may be delayed due to incorrect account numbers or issues with bank details. These farmers are urged to contact the concerned department to resolve any discrepancies and receive their relief at the earliest.
It is important to note that the relief provided to the farmers is under the norms of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and is not intended as compensation, clarified Tehsildar Kulgam, Bilal Ahmad. He further emphasized that the amount is intended to help farmers recover from the damages caused by the hailstorm, not to replace their losses entirely.