Srinagar: Amid heavy snowfall in the past three days, people living in rural areas in the valley are facing immense hardships in terms of blocked roads, power cuts, water scarcity, and shortage of essential commodities including price hike.
People of different areas of Kashmir while talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that facing immense hardships during winters have become a norm in Kashmir.
Showkat Ahmad, a resident of Keller belt of Shopian, said winter throws life out of gear in the valley.
“It is common in winter that the roads mainly in rural areas remain closed and slippery for months due to heavy snowfall while people are forced to protest for the want of basic amenities,” Showkat said.
“Whether it is local government or Governor rule, the administration always look helpless in winters. The authorities are never ready to tackle heavy snowfall. It takes weeks and even months for the restoration process,” he said.
Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident of Kokernag area of Anantnag, said that after a few inches of snow, people have to cry for water, power and other basic facilities.
“In the 21st century, people here are forced to take their patients on shoulders to the hospital. We have no infrastructure here and machines used to clear the snow are outdated,” Ishfaq said.
Shahid Ahmad, a resident of Ganderbal, said that in winter people always face a shortage of basic amenities as Kashmir only road to connect with rest of the world frequently gets closed during winters.
“Besides facing issues of the power crisis, water shortage, blocked roads, people here also have to face the brunt of price hike,” he said.
“Before winters, locals scour the markets like ants to stock up on food supplies during the winter period,” the locals said.
However, officials maintained that basic supplies are restored at an earliest. —(KNO)