Crop losses in flood-hit Valley pegged at Rs 3,674 cr

In terms of area, Budgam district has been worst-hit as crops on nearly 52,000 hectares of land have been destroyed

Losses to the agriculture sector in flood-ravaged Kashmir division including Ladakh region have been pegged at Rs 3,674 crores as crops on three lakh hectares of land have been damaged by the natural calamity.

According to a survey carried out by Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture department, Pulwama district has suffered the maximum damage in terms of damage to agricultural produce with losses estimated to be Rs 1104 crore.

The amount includes Rs 778 crore losses to saffron crop as flood water inundated Pampore town of Pulwama, where most of the Valley saffron is produced.

In terms of area, Budgam district in central Kashmir has been worst-hit as crops on nearly 52,000 hectares of land have been destroyed by the floods.

Although most residential areas of Budgam were largely unaffected by floods, agriculture sector took a big hit as standing crops worth Rs 552 crore were destroyed.

Kupwara district in north Kashmir was also a major sufferer as crops worth Rs 447 crore and spread over nearly 40,000 hectares were destroyed.

Baramulla district also suffered losses to crops to the tune of Rs 386 crore while Anantnag district in south Kashmir claimed losses of Rs 374 crore to agriculture crops.

Shopian district has been the least affected as losses of Rs 66 crore have been reported from there.

Kargil, in Ladakh region, reported crop losses to the tune of Rs 34 crore while there has been no damage in Leh district.

The state government is carrying out loss assessment due to floods on a war footing in areas where water level has reduced.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said on Friday last that the overall losses to all sectors would run into many thousand crores.