Scores of Kashmirfamilies, traders and other workers stranded in New Delhi for past many weeksin view of the ongoing lockdown on Tuesday urged the J&K government toevacuate them to their homes.
Greater Kashmirreceived scores of e-mails and distress calls from the families alleging thatthe J&K administration had failed to plan their evacuation which has leftthem in a state of despair.
“We try to contactthe so called helplines issued by the administration but unfortunately it bearsno results,” said one of the stranded family members from New Delhi.
Besides familiesand traders, scores of youth including females who were working in Delhi arealso stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown which has now been extended to May03.
“Most of thefamilies are running out of the money to pay their rents and we are looking atimminent starvation. If the authorities continue to pay deaf ears to our pleas,then it will cost dearly for stranded families here,” the resident said.
Recently, the J&K administration claimed to have set up a helplinenumber in the J&K Resident Commission New Delhi, to address issues faced bystranded residents from J&K in New Delhi and other parts of the country.
“After rigorous efforts, the office of resident commissioner’s helplineno. is now asking for the list of stranded people but still the fate remainsunclear regarding the policies of J&K administration,” another strandedpassenger said.
Among the strandedfamilies include those had travelled to New Delhi for medical treatment and arenow stranded due to suspension of flights and ongoing lockdown.
“The small scalebusinessmen and shawl sellers are also worst hit because their income dependson day to day earnings. They are also left to fend for themselves,” thestranded persons said, in an email.
“I am arthritis anddiabetes patient but I am unable to get myself injected for necessary medicines(for arthits) as no one here is even ready to come for injection. The prolongedstay will now have serious consequences on my health,” another ailing passengersaid.
The stranded families, traders and other people working in differentcompanies at New Delhi urged the J&K administration to address theirgrievance and chalk out strategies for their evacuation.
“We assure theadministration that we will cooperate in case we are asked to remain inquarantine in Kashmir,” another stranded passenger said.