Every autumn, Kashmir’s walnut orchards come alive. The season brings the familiar sounds of harvesting, the excitement of a good yield and the hope of financial relief for countless families. Walnut cultivation is not merely an agricultural activity in Jammu & Kashmir; it is woven into our economy, culture and way of life.For orchard owners, the harvest may bring earnings worth tens of thousands of rupees. But for the young men who climb those towering trees to bring the crop down, the same harvest can carry a devastating risk.

A few minutes of climbing can change an entire lifetime. And this is not a story of one unfortunate accident. It is a recurring public health tragedy that deserves urgent attention.Having worked in the Spine Unit of the Hospital for Bone and Joint Surgery, Barzulla, Srinagar, for over a decade, I have witnessed the devastating consequences of falls from walnut trees. I have seen young men arrive with severe spinal fractures and traumatic spinal cord injuries after falling from considerable heights during harvesting.

Many are in the prime of their lives. They are strong, physically active and often the sole breadwinners of their families. They leave home to earn a day’s wages. Some never return to the life they knew. A fall from a tall tree can cause devastating injuries to the spine and spinal cord. The damage may range from spinal cord oedema and incomplete neurological injury to complete spinal cord transection. The consequences can be catastrophic. A young man who was working, walking and supporting his family may suddenly lose the ability to move his limbs. He may become paraplegic, lose control over bladder and bowel function, and require assistance for even the most basic activities of daily living.

The person who once climbed trees to earn a living may now need someone else to turn him in bed.The tragedy is not only that a young man loses his mobility. It is that an entire family can lose its financial independence overnight.When the injury becomes a lifelong burdenAs spine surgeons, our priority is to stabilise the injured spine, protect the spinal cord and decompress it when indicated. Timely intervention, appropriate imaging and specialised care can improve outcomes in........

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