Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 1: Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the highway near Pantha Chowk area here after stone-quarry holders blocked the road in protest against the ban on stone quarrying.
The blockade of the road triggered a massive traffic jam in the area, leaving commuters stranded for hours together.
The protesters raised slogans in favour of justice and demanded the authorities to revoke the ban at the earliest.
An eye witness said that traffic movement was hampered due to a sit-in staged by the quarry holders to protest the ban on quarrying in Athwajan and Pantha Chowk.
He said that hundreds of vehicles were left stranded between Pantha Chowk and Sonwar stretch of the road including patients, students and office-goers.
“Government should have negotiated with the protesters and saved us of the hassle. It is Monday, first day of the week, and we are running late to the office,” said a stranded commuter who was heading towards his office in Lal Chowk from Pampore.
The Police later dispersed the protesting quarry workers by lobbing several tear gas shells.
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