M A I N   N E W S

It’s back to dark ages in Kishtwar
Blackout in border town for past 7 days
Raju William
Tribune News Service

Kishtwar, May 25
The pitch dark conditions induced by a complete power breakdown for the past one week has made the civil and police administration of the district tense as it fears any further delay in the restoration of power supply may lead to law and order problem. Incidents involving anti-national elements are also not being ruled out.

Messages have been flashed to the authorities, including the Development Commissioner, Power, for the third day since the power transmission tower near Pul Doda collapsed on May 17. Though the NHPC is trying to repair it, the area people will have to endure the situation for about a week more. This was conveyed by ADC, Kishtwar, Nazir Ahmed Shah to a public delegation led by Panthers Party leader Anil Parihar.

SP, Kishtwar, Dr Mohammad Hasib Mughal told The Tribune that due to total darkness at night surveillance and patrolling, especially in sensitive rural areas spread over challenging hill terrains, had become more difficult. “Besides security concerns, we are anticipating a law and order problem if the power supply is not restored, though maybe temporarily, in the coming few days.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the situation is reminiscent of the Dark Age. The fact that our personnel are using torches for night patrolling in rural areas bears testimony to this,” he said.

As normal life has been thrown out of gear, people are using candles, handy gas bulbs and kerosene lamps. The gravity of the situation can be gauged from the fact that instructions have been issued to the district Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department to strictly ensure that there is no hoarding and black marketeering of food items.

Water supply has been the first casualty in the area, which normally faces a shortage of water during summer. “We have no option but to access water from private tankers on payment to carry out daily chores because the supply from the civic body system is available for hardly 20-25 minutes daily,” said Puran Chand, a government employee.

Telephone connectivity too has been seriously crippled. Though telephones lines of BSNL are working, connectivity through mobile phones has been severely affected. Some shopkeepers having generator sets are making a fast buck by charging between Rs 20 and Rs 30 or even more depending on the urgency of a mobile phone user’s need to recharge the batteries of mobile phones. “I have paid Rs 25 twice to recharge my cellphone since the crisis set in,” said Suhail Ahmed, a college student.

Commercial establishments, hospitals, clinics, banks, educational institutions and government offices have become dependent on generator sets.

All this has put the patience of people to test. After bearing the brunt of the situation for a week, they have now started giving vent to their frustration and anger. Yesterday, they blocked a road at the local bus stand and organised a demonstration. The authorities apprehend any further delay in diffusing the crisis may see public anger demonstrated more virulently. “Our apprehension is based on our information that political outfits of different hues are preparing groundwork for a serious showdown and public may come out on roads,” added Mughal.