Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, July 20: Amid continuous curfew, people in South Kashmir are now turning to the traditional means of transportation – Tanga (a horse driven cart) – to travel as neither security forces nor protesters stop these horse-driven-carts.
Tangas – which were once used as main source of transportation are making temporary comeback in South Kashmir and Pulwama in particular where they are seen ferrying the needy people to the desired locations. They don’t need curfew passes and since majority of the Tangawallas (horse-driven-cart driver) are elderly and thus protesters spare them.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a local from Muran Pulwama, whose pregnant wife needed immediate medical attention, said he went to nearly 10 cab drivers to carry them to a nearby hospital but they refused. “They said they cannot risk their lives. I cannot blame them as protesters have thrashed several vehicles and even the Ambulances have not been spared by security personnels. Finally, I went to an old tangawala who understood my problem and agreed to take my wife to the District Hospital Pulwama,” he said.
Another horse-cart driver, Abdul Rashid, said he drove the Tanga along the National Highway after nearly five years as people prefer faster means of transport these days. “I only used my Tanga for the agriculture purposes now but in the prevailing situation. I feel it is the only safe means of transport. We don’t require any curfew passes nor do we need any fuel to move”, he said.
“Even the people provide us safe passage as we only operate in case of emergency. We manually remove the barricades and none stops us. As majority of the tangawallas are old, the young protesters respect us. We don’t defy curfew or shutdown but ply our carts only if an emergency arises, he said and added: “Mostly we ferry pregnant ladies, people who need immediate medical attention or if some one need, food or milk.”
Some 50-60 tangas were seen plying on the National Highway from Pulwama to Anantnag without any interruption. Some of the Tangawallas only do it to help people while others being poor see it as an opportunity to feed their families.
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