Normalcy returns to Jammu amid celebrations

Jammu, Sept 1: The City of Temples was seen bustling with activity as normalcy returned to roads and official departments, more than two months after being hit by the Amarnath land row.

''Normalcy came back to markets, bazars, schools, government offices, while traffic plied on the roads as celebrations continued over restoration of land to the Shrine Board in the winter capital,'' a police source told UNI.

People rushed to banks while long queues were seen outside ATMs whereas colleges and universities witnessed full attendance after an over two-month-long shutdown, sources added.

The shopkeepers, however, reopened the shops after cleaning them, which were littered with spent tear-gas shells, rubber bursts, half-burnt tyres in Residency, Road, Raghunath Bazar, Purani Mandi, Jain Bazar areas, while the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) staff were also seen busy cleaning the city and drainage full of garbage.

''The temporary barricades and barbed wires have been removed for smooth sailing as curfew has been lifted in the city and other districts including Samba, Udhampur, Kathua and Reasi last night,'' a senior police official said, adding searches on the outskirts and remote villages are still continuing to locate any suspicious movement, if any.

Meanwhile, the curfew continued for the tenth day in Poonch town and entered the 21st day in Kishtwar.

Besides, temples in the city observed a heavy rush of devotees and especially it being a Monday, devotees waited in long queues outside famous temples of Lord Shiva like Ranweshwar Temple, Raghunath Temple, Aapshambhu and Peerkho to offer sweet water and fruit.

''We must fold our hands and thank the Lord for strengthening the people of Jammu during the two-month-long agitation and the faith finally restored our smiles,'' Sheela Sharma, queued up outside a temple said.

People assembled at various city chowks and markets celebrating the occasion to 'dhol' beats and music chanting ''Bam-Bam Bhole''.

UNI