Thread by @hiambuj

THREAD : 👇

Back from 3 days visit of Kashmir (10th to 12th Oct). Other than Srinagar, I traveled to dist Baramulla too.

This is thread of my personal observations & interactions. There were lot of hearsay too, but would avoid posting unverified things.

Private Vehicles : The roads were full of more than normal (normal - my earlier visits before 5th Aug) traffic of private vehicles. I got stuck in traffic jams at multiple places, including Bemina, Batmaloo, near Polo park (street market), Dal Gate, Srinagar By-pass.

Public transport : Saw few auto rickshaws in Srinagar. Some Sumos & Taveras were also on road, not many. But didnt see any buses. Nor any state transport.

Loads of people were seen on roads, asking for lift, due to lack of public transport.

Shops : All big markets were either closed or had some shops open/half shutter. ATMs, Medical shops were open, even in closed markets.

More shops were seen open in morning & evening, than afternoon. Daily needs shops were all open. Some cafes were functioning with shutters down.

Street markets : Most of the places had street markets functional in larger than normal numbers. Handcarts with all sort of goods were on roadsides. I was told, even some shopkeepers are selling their products on handcarts. Batmaloo looked like it was Eid, so much was the rush.

Hotels : Sarovar Portico (which also houses media center) was taking guests. Had lunch there. Welcome hotel on Dalgate was also taking. Most others were not.

Some houseboats were taking guests. Saw few tourists, Indian as well as foreigners. Spoke to 3. They said they felt safe.

Outstation : Some Sumos/Taveras were plying from Kupwara, Sopore, Baramulla. No public vehicles from South. Private vehicles were coming from South too. But I was told by a Pulwama resident that even those come under stonepelting. Pattan, Kupwara, Baramulla markets were part open

Apple: Defying militant's dictat, almost all farmers had started plucking/packing apples. In South, farmers work in night. In North, saw farmers working in daytime too. 100s of packed wooden cartons were seen on roadside. Farmers I met preferred their old sale agents over NAFED.

Schools/Colleges : Were open, but only staff attending. Urgent messages to students (Exam date, practicals etc) are published in local newspapers. A DPS staff told that they were using school bus for staff & it came under stonepelting. Was told the same for another school bus.

Schools/Colleges (contd): One of the Biggest sufferers were students. Met 2 class 12th students, who told their 60% syllabus was done & exams have been announced. Met many students (In Srinagar & outside) who are doing tutions for many days, to complete syllabus.

Newspapers: All days, there were full page Ads by Govt on top page, on how decision on 370 was good & "why fear".

Many Ads for notifications of Colleges/Universities/schools. Many deaths' Ads too. News was mostly Govt announcements. Newspapers coming in fewer pages than earlier.

Maruti service station was open. There were 40+ cars in queue on Friday. (We lined up at 8.30AM & were 12th in queue). 3 cars had windshields broken in stonepelting.

Bikes services market was open in morning. Almost half Petrol pumps I noticed, were open in morning & evenings.

Traveled on Kreeri road, 4m Choora towards Gulmarg. Was told, there was infiltration from Gulmarg side & its cut off (didn't try going though). Locals feared if the militants entered their homes, their homes shall be blown to kill militants & they'll lose their lifelong earnings.

The two things hurting most were Civilian curfew & Communication ban. Lack of public transport hurt too. Everyone had some story to share, how communication ban hit them. Came to know of a person who died as he didn't get dialysis in time. There were more health suffering stories

Compared to my 2 days visit on 21-22 Aug, I would say, Kashmir was limping back to normalcy. People finding their ways. Lot of anger on Govt, esp for communications ban.

One more observation, most people were happy that leaders are under arrest.