Transporters operating on need basis
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, May 9: Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following drone and munitions attacks on several military installations, towns and villages along the Western Border on the intervening night of May 8-9, residents in Jammu’s border towns and Udhampur district today resorted to panic buying and early market closures.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The Union Government, however, urged shopkeepers and the general public not to panic or hoard food and essential commodities, assuring that there is sufficient supply of necessary items to meet the public needs in case of any untoward situation.
The transport also remained off the roads after 6 pm in almost all the towns in view of the lesser availability of the passengers. However, those in need, especially the tourists from other States and UTs, were constantly helped by the transporters even after the evening hours.
Shopkeepers in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri and Poonch districts said the decision to shut markets early was taken due to police announcements regarding blackout hours and joint resolutions passed by various Market Associations in these areas.
Rakesh Sharma, a shopkeeper from the Purani Mandi area in Old Jammu City, said, “We closed our shop around 5 pm after announcements from police vehicles asking for public cooperation.”
“Another reason for closing business establishments early was the decision taken by the Bazaar Association to ensure that all market visitors return to their homes safely on time,” he added.
Rahul Mahajan, a shopkeeper from Samba, shared a similar view, stating that shops in the town were closed between 4-5 PM.
According to him, the blackout was scheduled to begin in the town at 7:30 pm.
In Udhampur town, a local resident, Deepak Kumar said, “Shops and markets near the Northern Command areas were closed between 4-5 PM, while in other parts of the town, like the city area, they shut down later in a gradual manner.”
Likewise, markets in other border districts such as Rajouri, Poonch and Kathua also closed earlier than usual.
However, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua (JSK) Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, denied that the early market closures were enforced by the police or civil administration.
“We didn’t ask anyone to close the shops,” said both the Divisional Commissioner and DIG JSK Range.
Meanwhile, people in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts were seen lining up outside petrol pumps, grocery shops, and fruit and vegetable markets in panic to purchase the essential items.
Public transport also halted after around 6 PM, as most people reached home before that time.
Transport Union leader Karan Singh Wazir, however, stated that transporters continued to provide essential services in Rajouri, Poonch, Jammu, and Akhnoor areas, without fear of drones, shelling, or missiles.
“For those in need, our transporters are doing everything possible to help people reunite with their families in different areas through our services,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
