Shutdown over Amarnath cripples life in Jammu

SHUT SHOP: Over 850 industrial units in Jammu have shut down because of the agitation.

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Jammu: Santosh Kumari is a worried housewife. For the past week, essential commodities like milk have become increasingly scarce in Jammu. Life in the region has been crippled by the bandh called over the Amarnath land row.

“There’s no milk, no vegetables. Children have stopped going to school because of this,” she says.

Businesses have also been hit hard. Over 850 industrial units in Jammu have shut down because of the agitation. The power crisis is also compounding losses.

The region is subject to a 14-hour power cut every day.

Says businessman Ram Sahai,” Rs 840 crore have been lost due to this strike and over Rs 2,000 crore by the power cut. So there has been a total loss of over Rs 2840 crore.”

With most shops shut, pilgrims to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi are also facing a harrowing time. Another group that has been badly hit are the daily wagers who idly sit by the roadsides looking for work.

It’s been a 20-day shutdown and the streets of this region continue to burn.