Unable to see her infant daughter cry for milk, Naseema Akhtar today finally ventured out after three days despite the curfew in violence-hit Kashmir Valley that has made bare necessities a luxury for people.
Unable to see her infant daughter cry for milk, Naseema Akhtar today finally ventured out after three days despite the curfew in violence-hit Kashmir Valley that has made bare necessities a luxury for people.
"For the last three days, there was no milk at home. Today I managed to get half-a-kilo by somehow moving through the bylanes to reach a milkman's house," said Akhtar, 25, a resident of Barzulla area, cradling her one-year-old daughter Taubunisa.
With no let up in unrest in Kashmir where curfew was reimposed on Friday after a fresh wave of violence, people in cities and towns are facing a tough time getting food and essential commodities including medicines for their families.
"We are really having a difficult time as major part of our food stock like rice and flour has exhausted and we are unable to purchase them due to the conditions prevailing in the Valley," Zareefa Bano, a housewife from Zainakadal area, said.
She said there is no money at homes now as people have not been able to collect their salaries or draw money from banks and ATMs.
Residents of other parts of downtown like Rajouri Kadal, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Habba Kadal, Malaratta and Maisuma said that they are facing acute shortage of milk, bread and vegetables.
"With curfew being in force, police and CRPF deployed in the city are not allowing vendors to enter the area," said Zahoor Ahmad of Fateh Kadal.
The residents also expressed concern over shortage of medicines. "My mother is suffering from diabetes and it is
necessary for her to take certain medicines and insulin injections daily but she hasn't taken it for many days now as I could not go out to buy the medicines," a worried Altaf of Maisuma said.
Showkat Ahmad, a government employee from Eidgah area of the city said, they are unable to go to ration depots.
An official spokesman of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department (CAPD) said that the department is facing problems in keeping the ration depot open due to curfew.
"We have been supplying ration stocks in most places even on Sundays but some pockets in old city could be facing problems," he said.
Taking advantage of the shortage, the vendors selling vegetables have jacked up prices. Tomatoes are now sold at Rs 60 per kg while the price was Rs 20 to Rs 30 per kg before the trouble broke out, complained Rouf Ahmad, a teacher.
The CAPD spokesman said, "Given the current situation, the department is finding it difficult to take action against the profiteers as they sell goods in lanes and bylanes."
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