Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Over 10 lakh people, worst affected by last month’s devastating floods in Kashmir, have no homes on Eid-ul-Azha that is being celebrated here tomorrow and the Eid festivity is missing as major business centres were also ravaged.
The main shopping centres like Lal Chowk, Regal Chowk, Budshah Chowk, Residency Road, Court Road, Janglat Gali, Koker Bazar, Hari Singh High Street, Goni Khan, Mehraj Bazar, Hazoori Bagh, Batmaloo, Karan Nagar, Jawahar Nagar, Solina, Raj Bagh were worst affected by floods suffering losses of over Rs 50, 000 crores. The shopkeepers are still clearing the debris left by the floods.
Normally long traffic jams were being witnessed across the city, especially in these main business centres, on the eve of Eid but in Srinagar traffic is thin with no festivity. However, in some parts of Srinagar like Nowhatta that were not affected by floods there is some festivity with people busy in shopping.
“The markets in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley would be bustling with shoppers but this Eid is without celebrations,” says Mushtaq Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Regal Chowk.
In normal times, shoppers would throng meat shops, readymade garment shops and bakeries to prepare for the Eid but this time these outlets are in ruins. “We are still cleaning up the debris inside the shop. We lost all equipment and it will take long time to re-start our operations”, said Sajad Hassan, a bakery owner.
Even the sale of sacrificial animals has not picked up as people have suffered huge losses and are struggling to rebuild their lives. “There are few people who coming forward to buy sheep and goat for sacrifice. We have also reduced our import due to lack of demand,” said Ali Mohammad Ganaie, a livestock dealer.
Local say they will observe the rituals of Eid-ul-Azha but there will not be any celebrations. “We have lost everything – our house, two shops. What can we celebrate? We will offer ritual prayers”, said Javed Ahmad of Srinagar.
Mohammad Haameem of Jawahar Nagar has suffered business losses to the tune of Rs 80 lakh. “We are clearing debris on our own, as no labourers are available. Normally, we used to be busy with our customers, today I am busy in clearing debris”, he said.
Farooq Ahmad who lives under a tarpaulin sheet on foreshore road on the bank of Dal lake is dejected on this Eid. “We have nothing to celebrate. We are living in wretched condition. We don’t know how long we have to remain here? Government is nowhere. They are yet to assess loses. When will they provide us shelter? Not before winter, I believe”, he said.
The last month’s floods destroyed 1.05 lakh and partially damaged over 1.5 lakhs leaving and affecting over 12.5 lakh families.
Around 5 lakh people have no homes and 5 lakh others have no safe houses and some of them are either living with their relatives or others are living in tents.
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