Shimla
The continuous rains in Himachal Pradesh for the past several days have made a big impact on the apple season.
Due to heavy rains, roads have been blocked at different places, due to which the gardeners are not able to reach their apple mandis.
As reporters, continuous rains for the last four days, not only A and B grade, but also C and D grade apples are also trapped in HPMC’s collection centers. More than half of the centers are broken and apples kept in sacks are starting to rot. The apple season has come to a standstill due to the four days closed roads.
So far, 27.89 lakh boxes have been carried out from Fagu Barrier, 27.26 lakh boxes from Shoghi, 15.61 lakh boxes from Kuddu and 12.87 lakh box apples from Gumma. However, apple roads in areas like Kullu, Ani, Nirmand and Chaupal are stuck due to closure. The Saraj region of Mandi and the gardeners of Chamba-Bhramaur are also expecting major damage. The gardeners say that if the weather does not give relief soon, this time there may be huge economic loss in the season.
In the mandis like Shilaru, Narkanda, Rohru and Bhattakufar, the arrival of apples has decreased for the last four days. Parala Mandi, where 35 to 60 thousand boxes used to come daily, now only 10 to 15 thousand boxes are reaching there.
HPMC says that apples are stuck in the collection centers of Jubbal-Kotkhai, Theog, Dalash, Ani and Nirmand, which could not be taken to the processing unit.
Due to rain and landslides, the condition of many roads including National Highway-5 has deteriorated. The trucks and trolleys loaded with apples are stranded on the Chaila-Solan road. In such a situation, it is no longer easy to send it to the outside states from the surrounding areas.
Amidst difficult conditions, about 1.30 crore apple boxes have been sent out from Shimla district so far this season. Among the five major police barriers, Naina Barrier at Balg was at the forefront, from where 46.48 lakh boxes were sent to outside states. This area is connected to upper Shimla regions such as Jubbal, Kotkhai, Rohru and Chidgaon, which are famous for apple production.
