A hailstorm on 2 June 2025 in Kashmir’s Shopian district destroyed apple orchards, leaving farmers in debt and despair. Families, who were depending on the sale of this year’s crop for funds, have been forced to postpone weddings and consider withdrawing children from schools. Over the last 10 years, farmers have struggled with warming winters, erratic snowfall, spring frosts, pest attacks, and now extreme summer hailstorms. As climate change leaves Kashmir apple farmers in debt and pushes millions of crisis-ridden farmers nationwide further into despeair, government relief is minimal, and crop insurance unaffordable.