SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Normal life got affected to a great extent due to continuous bad weather conditions in Kashmir Valley with National Highway closed since January 4 and several flights cancelled during past five days due to poor visibility and bad weather conditions, thereby leaving thousands of visitors stranded in the valley. Meteorological Department has already predicted continuous snowfall till Saturday with administration issuing ‘Red alert’ for the valley. Moreover, moderate spell of snowfall on Friday evening and Saturday led to traffic snarls at many places in summer capital Srinagar. “Expect main intensity of heavy to very heavy rain/snow till January 8,” read MeT statement, adding, “Gradual improvement (in weather) will be there from January 9 morning onwards in J&K.”
Stocks of essential commodities and food items in Kashmir, particularly in Srinagar, depleted pushing prices of vegetables and fruits quite up as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed.
Earlier, administration had assured people that there is no possibility of national highway getting closed this year but soon after the statement, the road got closed for traffic as a huge boulder hit a car in Ramban sector, causing death of a valley resident.
People are alleging that whatever is left with retailers is being sold at very high rates. “At this time, we mostly get our vegetables from outside because there is no local production here in winters. During winters, people use dry vegetables and dry-fishes but even their prices are also getting higher with every passing minute and middle-class families are unable to purchase them,” said Sarwar Ahmed, a resident of Srinagar City.
Earlier, Kashmir Trade Alliance had also demanded that food items be kept available in addition to fuel, gas and medicines on emergency basis, so that there is no shortage of essential commodities and medicines in Valley due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu Highway
In a statement, President KTA Ajaz Shahdhar said that due to frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, Valley often faces shortage of many basic commodities besides petrol, diesel, food-items, LPG and medicines, causing hardships for people. Absence of essential commodities also increases raise in prices. He advised Divisional administration to take steps to reduce shortage of food-items and medicines in Valley.
Meanwhile, an advisory issued by Traffic Police Headquarters Srinagar, reads, “In view of inclement weather, vehicular movement on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway shall remain suspended because of heavy rains, shooting stones, landslides and slippery road conditions along NH-44.” It has further advised the commuters to first confirm highway status from Traffic control units from Jammu (0191-2459048, 9419147732) Srinagar (0194-2450022, 2485396) Ramban (9419993745) and Udhampur (8491928625), before proceeding on their journeys.