SRINAGAR – Barely 12 hours after the government spokesman said that 150 oil tankers were deported to Srinagar, almost all the fuel stations in this capital city and neighbourhood districts remained closed due to the shortage of fuel.
According to witnesses, most of the fuel stations in this capital city remained closed today due to the shortage of petrol and diesel. The commuters had to face tremendous hardships since the wee hours today as almost all the fuel stations remained shut.
“Commuters were seen moving from one fuel station to another to get the tankers of their vehicle refilled, but they were leaving the stations with utter disappointment,” witnesses said.
They said even the shops selling petrol in black also remained closed due to shortage of petrol.
On Friday, the government spokesman had said that over 150 oil tankers have been deported to Srinagar from Kud, saying that 250 oil tankers were stranded at Kud from last couple of days.
“Over 150 oil tankers have been deported while rest of the tankers will be deported soon,” spokesman said.
Not only fuel, but there is a shortage of LPG and other products in the valley as well, locals said.
The shortage of fuel, LPG and other products as per officials was the outcome of frequent closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway since November last year. The only road that connects valley with rest of the country was closed many a times since November 07, 2019, when Kashmir witnessed first and early snowfall of the season, causing hardships to the people. The highway reopened on Friday after two-day closure due to fresh snowfall that triggered slippery conditions of the road as well as landslides.
meanwhile, divisional commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan said that 500 trucks that were stranded at Patnitop have been cleared since this morning, adding that he was personally monitoring the clearance of trucks from this morning and the shortage of fuel and other essentials would likely end by tomorrow. (KNO)