Scores of J&K residents stuck in Delhi due to the ongoing lockdown put in place to contain the spread of cornavirus, on Saturday appealed the J&K authorities to facilitate their return to Valley.
The stranded includinglabourers, businessmen, artisans and some families appealed the authorities tointervene and help them in getting movement passes so that they could return toValley as the lockdown has made their survival difficult.
“Some of us are here inrented accommodations and some students are also in hostels without sufficientfood. We all want to return back to Kashmir. We are also ready for necessaryquarantine on our arrival in the Valley,” Bashir Ahmad Baba, a Kashmiristranded in Delhi told Greater Kashmir over the phone.
Baba, who identifiedhimself as president of Fruit Growers Association Budgam, said that he hadtravelled to Delhi for business purpose.
“Before I could havefinished by business deal and returned, the nationwide lockdown was announced.The lockdown is in our interest and I support it. But at the same time, wedemand our return to our homes,” he said.
Baba said that there arearound fifty persons including some families, artisans, labourers and businessmen he knew are stuck in Delhi.
He said all stranded aredemanding evacuation, but added they were frustrated by lack of response fromDelhi and Srinagar authorities to facilitate them with the travel passes.
“We will arrange ourvehicles ourselves. At least authorities must help us in getting passes totravel from Delhi to Srinagar. We are ready to go under quarantine on ourreturn,” he said. He said that he had called on helpline numbers which were circulatedby J&K authorities for J&K residents stranded outside, but they were ofno use.
“I called on those numbersand there the person told me to call Delhi police helpline. The Delhi Policeasked me to contact Delhi civil administration. In short, there are only helplines without any help on ground,” he said.
“Some Kashmiri students stranded in Delhi toldme over phone that their college hostels are closed and there is no sufficientfood that they can eat to survive. They also want to return back,” Baba said.
“We have been told by college authorities thatthe lockdown will not end in near future. We request our government tofacilitate our return to Kashmir,” said a student from Delhi.
The government of Indiaordered countrywide lockdown in second week of last month with curfew at manyplaces to ensure social distancing. Thegovernment also suspended all international and domestic flights, besidessealing borders and entry points. Thedecision was taken to contain the pandemic.