Valley watches road to reunion

Ahmad was not alone. Across the Valley, Kashmiris remained glued to television and radio sets for a blow-by-blow account of the flag-off. ‘‘I couldn’t control my emotions when I saw tearful Kashmiris crossing the Kaman bridge on the Line of Control,’’ says Professor Abdul Rashid. ‘‘I think the opening of the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road is the biggest positive step towards peace.’’

Mohammad Abdullah Bhat and his wife Ghulam Fatima watched their relatives make it on the first bus to PoK. ‘‘Finally, my parents, after separation of 18 long years, will be able to meet their daughter and grandchildren,’’ says Ishrat, Bhat’s youngest sister. ‘‘The opening of the road has raised hopes of union for all those separated families who got divided during Partition.’’

‘‘The opening of road has a great significance for our family. After decades, now I can meet my separated brothers and sisters living in Muzaffarabad,’’ says Nayeem Ahmad, a resident of Baghat.

In the villages, power played spoilsport. ‘‘I missed the live telecast but I got the details relating to the bus by listening the radio,’’ says Dr Mohammad Ramzan, who lives in Kitchama village on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. ‘‘The opening of the road is a great success for the Kashmiris.’’