Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Monday expressed anguish over the plight of protesting fruit growers and orchardists whose consignments have been stranded for days on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

In a statement, the Mirwaiz said he was “deeply pained” by the situation, describing orchardists as the backbone of Kashmir’s economy that sustains thousands of families.

“The government’s apathy to their plight is shameful,” he said, urging authorities to immediately ensure unhindered movement of fruit trucks on priority to prevent further losses and the mental agony being caused to the growers.

Fruit growers across the Valley have been staging protests in recent days, warning of a valley-wide strike if the highway is not fully restored within 48 hours.

Earlier, the fruit growers’ association reported that hundreds of trucks carrying perishable fruit consignments remain stranded on the highway and have not been allowed to proceed to their destinations, resulting in “massive damages and heavy losses” for growers