Kashmir breathes normal for a day
July 26, 2010
It was nearly after a month that life returned to normal though on two previous occasions the separatists relaxed their programme of strikes. Markets overflowed with people who came to buy essential commodities.
There were hours-long traffic jams.
Even though it was a Sunday, the Jammu and Kashmir Bank and some other private banks opened their branches for the convenience of the people. Shops, business establishments and some educational institutions opened early in the morning. Kashmir University cancelled all holidays including Sundays and asked its staff to work for nine hours a day to make up for the lost time.
As people thronged the markets, traffic jams occurred almost everywhere and moved at snail's pace. Major roads were blocked for many hours. “It looks like as if tomorrow it is Id as people are on a shopping spree,” said Mansoor Ahmad, a student. Shopkeepers are also expecting to sell more as they have faced enormous losses in the past four weeks.
“We have suffered a lot and today we expect to make something,” said Abdul Aziz, a shopkeeper on Residency Road.
However, business houses are still facing problems as flow of money has almost stopped with many government offices not able to function and banks closed.
The Kashmir Valley had been reeling under trouble for the last one month during which 16 people - mostly youth - died in police and CRPF action.
The separatist alliance of the Hurriyat had been calling for protests since June 26.
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