Govt Deploys SRTC Trucks to Sopore Fruit Mandi; Growers Welcome Relief Move Amid the continued closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides, Transport Minister Satish Sharma has taken urgent steps to address the crisis faced by fruit growers in north Kashmir. On his directions, 40 trucks from the J&K State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) have been deployed to Asia’s second-largest fruit mandi in Sopore, facilitating the transportation of produce to other states. The highway disruption had led to hundreds of trucks carrying fruit getting stranded, resulting in heavy losses and distress among growers. With private transport services either unavailable or charging exorbitant rates, the deployment of SRTC trucks has brought much-needed relief. A high-level team led by the Minister’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD), SRTC General Manager, ARTO Baramulla, and AD Food Baramulla visited the fruit mandi to assess the situation on the ground. Officials assured growers that more trucks would be arranged if necessary to prevent further disruptions. President of Sopore Fruit Mandi, Faiz Ahmad Malik, expressed gratitude to the government and urged Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to ensure strict monitoring of highway conditions. He emphasized the importance of uninterrupted fruit movement during the harvest season to protect the interests of growers. visual and bytes