Jammu, Jan19: There was no respite for the passengers stranded at Jammu bus stand as the state made no arrangements for their accommodation and food as promised by the Minister of State (MoS) of Home Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo.
 Passengers, including old aged, children and women, from far flung parts of Kashmir Valley and hilly areas of Jammu region are facing a hard time under open sky at General Bus stand here for the past three days. 
 Waiting for opening of the road, these passengers, are running the risk of falling sick given the inhospitable and unhygienic conditions. 
 Despite assurances by state government, none of the passengers have been provided accommodation or food.  Majority of them being labourers and petty businessmen are facing huge problems to survive as many of them are running short of money.
 Guhlam Ahmed, of Srinagar said that he had spent all the money to feed his family during these days. “If forced to stay here for  some more days most people will not be able to feed their family  as like me all others are running short of money,” he alleged that the shopkeepers near Bus Stand are selling the eatables at exorbitant rate. He informed that the biscuit packet costing Rs 5 was being sold at Rs 10.
 Another passenger Showkat Ali said that the taxi drives are also asking for Rs 700 per passenger from Jammu to Srinagar despite the fact that the actual fare is Rs 350.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST