‘It’s getting difficult to survive amid lockdown’

At least 100 students stranded in Nagpur have been “struggling to survive” amid the lockdown.

Greater Kashmir received distressed calls from many studentspursuing higher education in various educational institutes includingSantiGadge-Baba Amrawati University, pleading to authorities to facilitatetheir return.

   

“Many a times we are not able to get essentials and have tosleep empty stomach,” said Muzamil Ahmad of Chowgam village of Kulgam.

Ahmad, along with his two friends, Arif Majid from Hablish,Kulgamand  ShahidMohudin of Sopore arepursuing PhD in physical education.

The trio live in a rented accommodation in Amravati, 150 kmfrom Nagpur city.

Ahmad said a few days ago he ventured out to get medicinesbut was held by the police only to be set free late in the evening.

“Strict restrictions are in place and it is becomingdifficult for us to survive here now,” said Ahmad.

Like these students, there are many other students fromKashmir who narrated their ordeal.

“We had booked tickets to home on March 25 but following thelockdown, the flights got canceled and since then we are stuck here,” said MushtaqAhmad Dar from Pattan, who is pursuing PhD in Botany.

He said they were confined to their rented rooms in thescorching heat. “It has been a month now and I don’t think we will be able tomanage it anymore,” said Zubair Ahmad, a zoology research scholar fromMohamadpura, Kulgam. The two scholars also live in a rented accommodation nearto their university.

The dry fruit traders from Kulgam who were in Nagpur cityfor livelihood are also stuck there. “Every year we travel to Nagpur inNovember and return home by March. But as we’re about to return home, thelockdown was imposed,” said Aabid Amin Shah, a dry fruit dealer.

Shah said his brother and cousin who were into the sametrade are also stuck along with their families.

“We have two toddlers with us too and it is gettingdifficult for us to get baby food for them,” said Zahid Amin, another dry fruitdealer.

Tariq Ahmad, another trader, said they were now runningshort of money. “We are thankful to few humanitarian organizations who arrangedfood and essentials for us,” Ahmad said.

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