NEW DELHI, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- Apple farmers in Indian-controlled Kashmir are grappling with huge losses as thousands of tonnes of the prized crop lie rotting in goods trucks stranded along the highway for the past three weeks.
The distressed farmers who have been left in the lurch blame the authorities for failing to restore traffic on the Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting the region with Jammu and beyond to mainland India.
The road suffered massive damage following last month's heavy rains and cloudbursts that triggered landslides and flash floods. A huge portion of the road was completely washed away near Udhampur. There are also several sections between Chenani, Udhampur, Nashri and Banihal where the road has suffered severe damage.
Despite efforts to clear the debris, the authorities have failed to restore the road connectivity and make it fully operational.
The situation has left thousands of vehicles, mostly goods trucks, laden with apple boxes, stranded on the road.
Apple growers and traders so far have pegged the losses at over 113 million U.S. dollars. ■
