Blocked roads, power cuts, water cuts, shortage of essential items, price hike, Kashmiris face immense hardships in Wintr
AAQIB BHAT
Srinigar Jan 08 (PTK);The people living mainly in rural areas in valley cloaked in white are facing immense hardships every year in winter in terms of blocked roads power cuts, water cuts, shortage of essential commodities and price hike.
People of different areas of kashmir said that they have facing facing immense hardships during winters.
Showkat Ahmad a resident of Keller belt of Shopian said winter brings many problems for every class’ of people in every corner of the valley, the life remains out of gear.
It is common in winter that the roads mainly in rural areas remained closed and sliperry for months due heavy snowfall while as people are forced to block roads and protest for want of basic amenities.
He said whether it is local government, Governor rule or centre rule administration look aidless and hopeless in winters the administration never looks ready for such things and takes weeks and even months for the restoration Process.
Ishfaq Ahmad a resident of Kokernag area of Anantnag said that it is common thing in winter in kashmir whenever there are few inches of snow, we have to cry for water, power and other basic facilities.
Administration takes weeks to restore water and power supply besides that even in 2ist century, people here are forced to take their patients on shoulders to hospital as, we have no infrastructure here and machines used to clear the snow are outdated.
I am sure that if there wouldn’t have been such harsh winter conditions, people here would have living happier life as whenever winter comes people here start carving for basic amenities, he said.
Shahid Ahmad a resident of Ganderbal said that in winter people here always face shortage of basic amenities as kashmir is a bowl and has only one road to connect with rest of the world which frequently gets closed during winters.
He said besides facing issues of power crisis, water crisis, blocked roads, people here also have to face the burnt of price hike.
Kashmir becomes a virtual island in winter as it remains cut off from rest of the world, after which hike in prices and fares is common issue here, he said.
Other people also said during winter uncertainty also looms over the valley during winter as electricity is erractic and activities comes to a near-standstill.
Before winters, locals scour the markets like ants to stock up on food and supplies that will tide them over chillai kalan,the 40-day harsh winter period they said.
However, officials maintained that basic supplies are restored at an earliest every time. (PTK)
