Srinagar faces shortage of essentials

{image-j&k_25082008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Srinagar, Aug 25: It is a tough time for people of Srinagar as the city faces acute shortage of basic commodities. People in the Kashmir valley are facing acute shortage of essential commodities, including milk, rice, bread and vegetables due to curfew and general strike. Due to sudden imposition of curfew by the authorities on Sunday, Aug 24 morning, we could not store milk, bread and vegetables, said people in the curfew-bound areas.

People in majority areas in the city alleged that they had no rice and atta. The ration depots of the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) were without ration despite government claims that hundreds of trucks carrying essential commodities were arriving daily from Jammu.

Residents of Batmaloo, Dalgate, Sonawar, Rainawari and Nowgam alleged that the CAPD depots in their areas were empty for the past two weeks.

''Where has the truck loads of vegetables gone as was being claimed by the government to have received from Jammu? people asked and alleged that these were being supplied to security forces and government employees living in security zone areas and working in move offices in the valley.

A number of telephone calls were received by this office from different parts of the city alleging that security forces were not allowing even milkmen, coming from outskirts to city.

A resident from Sonwar alleged that a baker prepared breads for the patients and their attendants of GP Panth hospital here, who are without any food for the past two days, but, he was detained by the security forces on his way along with breads.

He said we could not arrange food for the patients this time as was done in the past because of strict restrictions.

Complaints of shortage of essentials commodities were also received from other parts of the city and other major towns.

UNI