Fruit mandis across the Kashmir Valley have initiated a complete shutdown in response to the government's alleged failure to ensure the smooth transit of fruit-laden trucks on the Srinagar–Jammu National Highway. This action follows warnings from growers about a potential valley-wide strike if the highway, a crucial artery for the region's economy, is not fully restored within 48 hours.

The situation has become dire, with emotional scenes unfolding at Asia's second-largest Fruit Mandi in Sopore, where desperate growers lament the potential loss of their year's hard work as their produce rots in stranded trucks. Many orchardists have expressed their frustration, stating that the government is "watching silently" while their livelihoods are threatened.

Fayaz Ahmed Malik, the president of the Sopore Fruit Mandi Association, has strongly criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing him of failing the people. Malik stated that if the Chief Minister cannot ensure the passage of fruit trucks, he has no right to remain in office and should resign. He also pointed out the lack of support from MLAs, alleging that while trucks carrying other commodities like iron are being allowed to pass, fruit-laden vehicles are being deliberately held back. Malik warned that if the highway is not restored within 48 hours, growers will announce a valley-wide strike, which could cripple economic activity across the region.

The shutdown, observed on September 14 and 15, has affected mandis throughout the valley, including those in Sopore, Handwara, Shopian, Kulgam, and Anantnag. The Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers-cum-Dealers Union has reported that hundreds of trucks carrying perishable fruit are stranded, resulting in massive damages and heavy losses for growers.

The Srinagar-Jammu highway's closure has had a devastating impact on Kashmir's apple growers, with estimated losses already exceeding ₹1,000 crore. Approximately 2,000–3,000 truckloads of apples are currently rotting on the 270 km highway, which is the only road connecting the region to the rest of the country. The Valley, which produces approximately 20-25 lakh metric tonnes of apples annually, relies heavily on this highway to transport its produce to markets across India.

Fayaz Dar, an apple dealer in Sopore, stated that authorities have failed to reopen the highway despite the rain stopping. The prolonged closure, now lasting for more than two weeks, has caused immense despair among fruit growers.

Opposition leaders have also criticized the government's inaction. Sajad Gani Lone, the president of Peoples Conference, expressed his outrage in a post, while Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Kashmir's chief Muslim cleric, voiced his anguish over the plight of the growers, urging authorities to prioritize the movement of trucks to prevent further losses and mental agony. He described the government's apathy as "shameful".

Senior National Conference MLA Dr. Bashir Ahmed Veeri has called for urgent action to restore the highway, suggesting that the government should use modern machinery or even hand over the restoration work to the army if necessary. He emphasized that the mismanagement of the highway is destroying the backbone of the region's economy, with lakhs of families dependent on horticulture.