Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 4: With Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remaining closed for vehicular movement for the third consecutive day, over 600 passengers from various parts of Kashmir and Chenab valley region are stranded at General Bus Stand Jammu.
However, SSP National Highway Sanjay Kotwal said that the highway would be restored for vehicular movement likely tomorrow.
Facing official apathy and forced to spend days and nights in open, the stranded passengers staged a protest demonstration by blocking the vehicular movement on the Indira Chowk-Bus Stand road.
The passengers were protesting against the failure of the administration to provide them alternate accommodation till the opening of the National Highway.
The stranded passengers raised anti-Government slogans demanding food and shelter. When the protesters came on the main road in a bid to block busy BC road, they entered into a minor scuffle with some police personnel.
After minor scuffle with police, the stranded passengers sat on road and blocked the vehicular movement on the Indira Chowk-Bus Stand Road, leading to long traffic snarls.
The protesting passengers stated that “This is for the third consecutive day that we are struck here at the bus stand seeking alternate accommodation. The administration has turned a blind eye towards their plight”, he added.
The stranded passengers said they were running out of money as they got stuck up in Jammu due to closure of National Highway.
“I do not have even the money to feed my two sons and wife, who are stranded with me at the bus stand”, Mushtaq Ahmed, a resident of Bandipora, Srinagar said while talking to EXCELSIOR.
He added that the hoteliers are also over-charging the stranded passengers for accommodation and foods and there is no check on them.
The poor stranded passengers, who are spending their days and nights at Bus Stand due to financial crisis have fallen ill due to chilly cold weather conditions, said Abdul Gani, a resident of Kishtwar.
The authorities should take some emergent steps to provide food and shelter to the passengers who have been struck up at Jammu due to closure of the National Highway, the protestors demanded.
Situation further aggravated when a contingent of police headed by the SP City Shiv Kumar Singh Chouhan rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. Later DIG Traffic Ashkoor Wani and SSP Traffic Mohan Lal reached the spot and pacified the agitators by making alternate arrangements at Haj House, JDA Hall Bus Stand, Aggarwal Sabha and other such places.
On the assurance of the senior police officers, the stranded passengers dispersed and the vehicular movement was restored.
When contacted, SSP National Highway Sanjay Kotwal told the EXCELSIOR that Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is blocked near Khari area in district Udhampur.
“Men and machinery are on job to make the highway go through. The NH would be restored for vehicular movement likely tomorrow”, SSP added.
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