Srinagar limps back to normalcy

Some shopkeepers opened their shops after 10 days. Others sifted through merchandise to gauge losses.

Ten days after floods marooned Srinagar, the first signs of the government became visible as the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and the J&K Police began their work in the flood-hit areas. Several vendors and shopkeepers opened their outlets on Tuesday as Srinagar started to limp back to life.

“We have no time to mourn these losses,” said Fayaz Ahmad, who runs a furniture showroom at Residency Road. “We have to get up and start rebuilding. Even after what we saw in these 10 days, it would be foolish to keep up hopes of any government help,” he said.

At Batamaloo, the junction that connects Srinagar to north Kashmir, street vendors re-erected their carts to sell essential items. Some shopkeepers opened their shops after 10 days. Others sifted through merchandise to gauge losses.

As petrol pumps started receiving fuel supply, both public and private transport began plying on the city roads. The road that connects Srinagar to South Kashmir was also opened for traffic.

For the first time since the floods, the police too were visible on the roads. The SMC, meanwhile, hired trucks to collect and dispose of garbage that had accumulated over the past 10 days.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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