Wait longer, Valley counts down stock

Relief for Kashmir, swept under a tide of snow, can be as distant as 15 days while the Valley lives off depleting stocks of food, fuel and other essentials.

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and his secretariat did an aerial survey of the national highway and found vast stretches of the road from Ramban to Banihal missing. The Army is not very hopeful of Kashmir’s main lifeline as restoration depends entirely on weather. ‘‘Every hill is loaded with avalanches,’’ said Maj Gen R.S. Mehta, officiating GOC, 15 Corps. The Border Roads Organisation said it would take at least a fortnight to re-connect Kashmir.

The Valley continues to grapple with scarce food, fuel and other essentials. ‘‘Our petrol supplies are very poor. The gas stocks will last for six to seven days, electrification will take more than 10 days. We have a real crisis at hand,’’ said Taj Mohideen, Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs. ‘‘We were caught completely off guard. The highway has remained shut for 20 days, leaving very less scope for replenishment of vital stocks.’’