The famous Kashmiri apples have started reaching the steel city, much to the delight of fruit-lovers who were sceptical about receiving this gift from the troubled Valley this year, in the wake of a lockdown after Article 370 was revoked on August 5.

Trucks with consignments of apples started arriving from Kashmir since Sunday, said fruit wholesalers in steel city.

Md Shaheed Hussain, a large whole-seller of Kashmiri apples in Sakchi, normally four trucks from Srinagar with two varieties of Kashmiri apples, American and Dilshan, came to them at the godown of Krishi Utpad bazaar Samiti in Parsudih every day this time of the year.

“This year, it has been a late start. So far, only two trucks of apples are coming every day from Srinagar since Sunday. We hope normal supply resumes in the next two-three weeks,” he said on Tuesday.

But Hussain said that though consignments of apples had started coming from Srinagar and it meant that transport from the interiors of Kashmir had been gradually easing up, telecommunication glitches continued.

“We have been using cellphones for years to communicate with Srinagar. This time, we had to go back in time and use STD calls and landlines. Cell phone calls still don’t go through to Kashmir,” Hussain said.

He added that the wholesale price of Kashmiri American apples was between Rs 50 and Rs 60 a kilo while that of Dilshan was between Rs 60 and Rs 70. “Considering the circumstances, the price hike from last year is marginal, around 10 per cent,” he said.

Customers can’t believe their luck.

Capt N.N. Jha, a senior physician and a resident of Kadma, said Kashmiri apples were his favourite fruit. “I believe in the old adage that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, and I prefer Kashmir’s apples over every other variety,” he said. “I’m glad the apples are reaching the city, given the situation after Article 370 was scrapped,” he said.

Bistupur-based businessman Piyush Mehta said the sight of red apples from Kashmir brightened up the fruit mart. “Signs of hope,” he said.

The Telegraph had reported on September 15 that very few Kashmiri shawl-walas could reach the steel city with their wares. But, the situation has improved in the past nine days. Kashmiri shawl trader Fayaz Ahmed, 50, who reached here last Wednesday, told this reporter that he personally knew that about two dozen Kashmiri shawl traders had reached Jamshedpur. “Shawl traders have started coming from not only Srinagar but Sopore and Anantnag,” said Ahmed.

On the situation there, Srinagar resident Ahmed said: “The Valley was swarming with paramilitary forces and people had to show their ID cards whenever asked by the men in uniform. Most shops are still closed, cellphone service is not operating and neither is the local public transport system. One has to use one’s personal vehicle if one wants to get around.”