Confusion in the Valley after govt advisory; locals scramble for essentials; many tourists remained unaware till evening
From page 01 SRINAGAR: Minutes after the J&K government asked tourists and Amarnath yatris to cut short their stay in Kashmir, panic spread across the Valley with people queuing outside petrol pumps, ATM’s and grocery and vegetable shops to stockpile provisions.
WASEEM ANDRABI/HT PHOTOPeople stand in a queue at a petrol pump after an advisory was issued by the state’s home department for the Amarnath pilgrims and tourists in Kashmir, in Srinagar on Friday. The advisory cited intelligence inputs about terror threats.The state’s health department has issued advisory asking its officials to store petrol and diesel for ambulances.
“Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible,” said an order issued by the principal secretary, home department Shaleen Kabra.
With residents of Kashmir valley already on tenterhooks for the past week, the order set off a scramble for essentials. Over the past week, every single government order has been seen as a precursor to the Centre scrapping Article 35 of the constitution that gives special privileges to permanent residents of the state. Last weekend, it was the deployment of fresh troops. A day later, it was a note from a Railway Protection Force officer to his sub-ordinates asking them to stockpile provisions. Then it was an internal memo of the police force on gathering information on mosques and their management.
“For the past several days, different orders were issued by the government but today’s order asking tourists and yatris to leave is clear indication that the government is planning something big, so I am filing my tank. God knows when pumps will have petrol again,’’ said Shabir Ahmad who lives in the old city.
The state’s governor Satya Pal Malik reassured people earlier this week that everything was normal and that they should not believe rumours.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan refuted rumours that schools are to close. “There are no orders issued for closure of schools so people shouldn’t pay heed to these rumours.’’
Kabra told Hindustan Times that there was input about serious threat to the yatra so advisory was issued to yatris many of whom are tourists also. “We issued advisory only because tourists and yatris are non-locals and they don’t know the exact routes in case of any exigency.’’
Some tourists were yet to hear of the order. “I don’t know there is any advisory. If there is any advisory like this I will cut short my visit,’’ said Rakesh Kumar a tourist from Delhi who was talking a leisurely stroll on the banks of the Dal lake in Srinagar.
Former CM and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said on Twitter: “Friends staying in hotels in Gulmarg are being forced to leave. State road transport Corpn buses are being deployed to bus people out from Pahalgam & Gulmarg. If there is a threat to the yatra why is Gulmarg being emptied?”
Wahid Malik, President Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant owners’ Federation said that tourists resorts Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam have been emptied of tourists. “Police have advised them to leave. In Srinagar they will be leaving for airports.”
Bilal Ahmad who owns a petrol pump said that after rumors started spreading people queued outside petrol pump. “By evening we will be running out of stock.’’
Government officials said the Srinagar Airport Director called a meeting of special airport security committee soon after government issued security advisory. Meanwhile, more paramilitary forces were rushed to different parts of the valley .And additional paramilitary forces were deployed in the local police stations. “Something is in the pipeline, but I don’t know what is it,’’ said a senior police officer.
All airlines to be ready for additional flights to and from Srinagar at short notice to fly out tourists and Amarnath yatris, said DGCA.