Contrary to official claims on ‘speeding up’ snow clearance operations, scores of Srinagar residents today complained that life has been thrown out of gear by the snow-covered roads and water-logging in their areas.
People especially from the Downtown and on Srinagar outskirts said that mounds of snow on the inner roads and cesspools of water curtailed their movement.
The residents from these areas reached out to Greater Kashmir and said that most of the by lanes and link roads are yet to be cleared. The residents of old town areas including Aali Kadal, Maharaj Gung, Sheikh Mohalla , Bu lBul Lankar, Gangbaksh, Mulchimar and others said that the bylanes are yet to be cleared posing huge problems to the local population.
“It has been four days since we are stuck in the snow and the administration seems to be least bothered. Although many main roads have been cleared, the bylanes and narrow alleys in our area are yet to be cleared,” said Ashiq Hussain from Maharaj Gunj, here.
He alleged that the administration has turned a blind eye to the lanes where snow clearing machines can’t reach. “The administration must remove the snow manually from these lanes so that people don’t suffer.”
“In downtown areas like Milksahab, Gojwara, Chandpora ,Makhdoom Sahib, Bachi Darwaza, Wanganpor and interiors of Eidgah, the snow from by lanes and link roads is yet to be cleared. Now melting snow has triggered water-logging which makes it inconvenient to move out,” Shahid Ahmed of Gojwara said.
“Imagine if there is a medical emergency, we have to carry the patient on the shoulders to reach the main road,” a local said.
Meanwhile, social media users continued to take to social media platforms to apprise administration about their problems. The pictures of un-cleared snow from the uptown and other areas are making rounds on social media with netizens expressing their resentment against the failure of authorities to remove snow. “In Rawalpora area, one of my neighbours has a kidney patient in their home. The lanes are yet to get clear. Have to walk 1 Km distance up to the main road,” tweeted Kasiar Andrabi.
Trade bodies from downtown Srinagar said that they are facing a lot of issues from the last few days.
Ayaz Zehgeer, Chief Organizer, Beopar Mandal said: “All the focus of administration is on main roads while link roads and alleys are left unattended. The administration should press more manpower and clear snow from vast network of lanes in downtown.”