Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: Hundreds of passengers stranded at General Bus Stand here due to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in view of landslides held protest demanding airlifting to Kashmir, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar.
The travellers from Kashmir, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar Valley are stranded at the General Bus Stand here with the highway remaining closed for the fifth consecutive day today in the wake of landslides at some places.
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Stranded passengers urged Government to take immediate steps to clear the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and to help the families stranded here.
“Government should airlift stranded passengers as there are women and children who are suffering badly,” protesters said.
Officials said that around 300 people are stranded due to closure of highway, the only road connectivity Kashmir, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar to the rest of the world.
The protesting families assembled at General Bus Stand Jammu urging authorities to take to be serious about the problems faced by them.
Many stranded families claimed that market price of commodities has skyrocketed as there is no market checking squad to put rates in order. “Some of the shopkeepers and hoteliers are taking undue advantage of our miseries,” they claimed.
When contacted, Tehsildar Rajinder Singh told the EXCELSIOR that arrangements for the stranded passengers have been made at Mufti Hostel near Commerce College on Canal Road.
“Food and accommodation are being provided to the stranded passengers and all these arrangements are being made by the district administration”, he added.
Singh informed that some of the stranded passengers are staying in hotels and lodges and are approaching Mufti Hostel to get them register for airlifting to their respective destinations.
Regarding overcharging by the hotelier, Singh said that complaints regarding overcharging by a hotelier was received, but when verified it was found that the hotel was charging Rs 800 for accommodating four persons in a single room. “Rs 200 is not a big amount for a stranded passenger to stay in a hotel in the prevailing conditions”, he added.
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