Sitting in a corner of her relative’s house, Ruby Jan, 34, is uncertain about what is in store for her four minor daughters.
Her husband, Mushtaq Ahmad Nanda, 36, who used to drive aTavera vehicle to support his family died in a road accident near Ramban alongthe Srinagar-Jammu National Highway last week.
The family lives in abject poverty in a two-room muddy housein Nai Basti locality of Anantnag town and are presently putting up at arelative’s house nearby to receive the mourners.
“Ever since we got married, he (Nanda) toiled hard to makeboth ends meet. And was now striving to provide the best possible education toour daughters,” says Ruby with tears brimming in her eyes.
She said that despite limited resources all her daughtersare studying in a private educational institute.
Nanda used to drive a truck earlier but for past some yearshe was ferrying passengers from Anantnag to Jammu in a Tavera car owned by aman from Batengoo.
“He would work day in and out and would rarely find time torest at home. But always made the moments he spent with us memorable. Neverever did he let us feel the burden of being poor,” says Ruby as her two eldestdaughters – Bazila Mushtaq (8th standard) and Tanzeela (5th standard) -looktowards her in utter disbelief.
Suhana (2nd standard) and Khushi (UKG), the youngest onesare seemingly unable to comprehend the tragedy that has befallen them.
“He (Nanda) wanted to construct a new house for us. But allour hopes stand dashed and the future of my daughters looks insecure,” saidRuby in a choked voice.
Whenever Nanda would travel to Jammu with passengers, hewould call his family at least thrice during his journey.
However, on that fateful day, before he would make a finalcall, landslides hit his vehicle plunging it into a stream.
His body was fished out late in the night while that of thepassenger Irshad Ahmad Dar of Banderpora, Kanelwan village of Bijbehara,continues to be missing.
“I offered him tea and then at around 8:30 am he left homefor work,” says Ruby, recalling how he hugged all his daughters before biddingadieu to them.
“At 2:30 pm he called me that he was leaving for Jammu andthen at 5:30 pm, he again called saying he was about to reach Ramban. He toldme he would call me once he reaches Jammu. But that call never came,” saidRuby.
She said she kept on calling him but his phone was off.
“The next morning, his body arrived,” a shattered Ruby said.
The family is among hundreds devastated by similar tragedieson this only surface link connecting Kashmir with rest of the country asauthorities over the years have failed to improve its condition.
The situation gets worst during winters and inclement weatherconditions with avalanches and landslides putting the life of commuters torisk.
People have been for long demanding speeding up work on thehighway expansion and also tunnels on alternate routes like Mughal Road,Kishtiwar-Kokernag road and Kapran-Doda road to minimise the chances ofmishaps.