crossed the Kaman Bridge, one was loaded with lotus stems.

Since the beginning of the cross-LoC trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road, this was the first consignment of lotus stems to have reached Muzaffarabad along with different varieties of Kashmiri fruits and vegetables.

“This afternoon, 21 trucks were sent to PoK and one of the trucks was loaded with lotus stems,” District Manager, Industries, Mohammad Ashraf, confirmed.

“We have also received seven pick-ups loaded with various items from PoK.”

The fruit and vegetable dealers of Kashmir had received special requisition from their PoK counterparts for Kashmiri lotus stems.

Ghulam Rasool Bhat, president, Fruit Growers and Dealers, said. “We have been reported that our apples and other vegetables, including lotus stems, are in great demand across the LoC.”

Officials claimed that 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of vegetables were exported from Kashmir to different states and lotus stems, too, was exported in a large quantity.

Bhat said the quantum of trade will gradually go up, once a delegation of Kashmiri traders will be allowed to visit PoK.

“As lotus stem is not found anywhere in PoK, many people living there would taste this vegetable for the first time,” he said, adding that the quantity of lotus stems will be increased in the next batch of trucks readying to cross the border.

Lotus stem is found in abundance in the Dal Lake, Anchar, Manasbal and Wular lakes.