BAHAWALPUR: The recent high-velocity windstorm has massively damaged the mango orchards in Bahawalpur and Multan districts, causing heavy losses to their owners, who seek compensation from the government.

Dawn has learnt that the mangoes in these orchards were ready for picking and the owners hadcompleted the arrangements in this regard when the windstorm lashed the region like other parts of Punjab on Saturday last.

Some orchard owners, including members of Khakwani and Gopang clans told Dawn that they had already paid millions of rupees to contractors for engaging labour and wooden crates for picking and packing the ripe fruit for its countrywide transportation when the storm struck.

They say that because of the strong winds, a large quantity of ripe mangoes have fallen fromthe trees and spoiled.

They say that because of the windstorm the fruit scattered on the ground in the orchards and was being collected and sifted for packing in the crates for the sale, as soon as possible. This hasty sale would also cause financial losses to the owners, they say.

Expressing concern over the situation, the orchard owners apprehend heavy financial losses. They appealed to the government to compensate them for their losses caused by the natural calamity.

Agriculture department experts have also confirmed that the windstorm caused a massive damage to the mango yield in the south Punjab region, causing heavy financial losses to the orchard owners.

Meanwhile, the commission agents also apprehend that the damage to the mango yield may push the fruit prices up in the wholesale and retail markets, not only in the province but also in the entire country.