Bandipore, July 19: Amid curfew, people are reviving the age-old tradition of water transport trough Jhelum in Bandipore district to ferry goods and reach places.
 The river is proving more helpful to the inhabitants than the macadamized roads on which hundreds of paramilitary CRPF and policemen are seen enforcing the curfew and restrictions.
 “The boats are used to ferry people from Bandipore to Sopur, Srinagar, Pattan and Varmul towns,” the local told Greater Kashmir. The journey towards Srinagar and Sopur starts from Sumbal, Hajin, or Banyari and culminates at Shadipora near Srinagar city.
 "Roads have been blocked by the troopers and we are using Shikaras (boats) to ferry passengers from one palace to another" said a boatman Muhammad Subhan Dar, adding, “we have kept around 50 boats for the stranded people who want to reach to their respective destinations.”
 "Ferrying passenger through Jhelum is safe and easy; we are avoiding the sight of troopers and take the passengers to their destination like Srinagar and its adjoining areas," said Muhammad Ashraf another boatman.
 "I helped large number of students studying in other sates to reach Srinagar from where they had to catch a plane," said another boatman at Sumbal.
 The people also used the service to reach Hajin, Banyari, Sumbal, Shahgund, Prang, Ajas, Saderkoot, Aloosa, Kema, Watlab, Adipora and Sopur during the restrictions.
 Essential commodities were also transported via boats form one place to another in the area, the boatmen said.
 "I am recalling the days when people used Dungaboats to ferry passengers and tourists from Khadinyar (Varmul) to Khanabal (Islamabad)," said an aged Muhammad Afzal adding "People preferred to travel through Jhelum as it was cheap, comfortable and affordable."

Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST