Acute shortage of milk, petrol and other essentials in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 13 (UNI) People in the Kashmir valley are facing acute shortage of petrol, milk and other essential commodities, though the government claimed that more than two thousand vehicles had arrived here in the past four days.

Almost all petrol pumps in the city went dry while only few had some stock, not enough to provide petrol to consumers.

Out of three petrol pumps at Batmaloo, a stones throw away from the police headquarter, only one had few hundred litres of petrol.

Long queues of vehicles could be seen near the petrol pump.

We have only few hundred old stock of petrol, we are not responsible if anyone in the queue will not get petrol, the attendants at the petrol pump said.

He said no fresh stock has arrived as was being claimed by the government.

Two nearby pumps said they had only old stock of diesel available. We have no petrol as no fresh stock has arrived, they told a UNI correspondent. We had not a drop of petrol, they said.

All the four petrol pumps at Dalgate, Durganag and two at Moulana Azad road were closed. However, in the morning one of the pump at Azad road was supplying petrol till old stock lasted.

The authorities claimed that hundreds of tankers carrying petroleum products had arrived here during the past four days.

However, where has the stock gone nobody knows, people said.

There was also acute shortage of milk and maximum milk is being supplied by milk federations and individuals from Pulwama district to city consumers.

As the authorities had announced relaxation of curfew in Srinagar and Badgam districts only in the morning, the milkmen could not come from different parts of Pulwama district till here.

Similarly, the milk federations too failed to provide milk to consumers.

However, at Maisuma near here a three wheeler with milk packets was forced to sell milk to people there. He said he was carrying the milk to some other place for his regular customers.

There was also acute shortage of vegetables. However, at some places shopkeeper were selling old stock of potato, onion, brinjal and local Saag on higher prices.

People were also complaining about the shortage of rice, atta and sugar in government controlled shops. However, there was no shortage of gas cylinders.

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