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Recent inclement weather in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway, alternate highway Mughal road and important link of Srinagar-Ladakh road.
Authorities have been maintaining that they have made a contingency plan to meet any situation arising in severe winters and would ensure that Srinagar-Jammu highway is reopened as soon as possible.
But the facts are contrary to their claims on the ground. Due to the price rise in the air tickets to and out of Kashmir, this mode of traveling is not affordable for common people who have been trapped in Jammu and Kashmir valley.
This closure of highway has added to the problems of common people on both sides of Jawahar tunnel and the worst sufferers are truck drivers and owners of passenger transport vehicles, who have to park their vehicles not only for the days now for the weeks due to the closure of highway.
JK administration should have intervened long back and should have ensured that the air tickets become not only affordable but also available to the common people so that they can reach back their homes.
Basic essence of the government being a welfare state has to think about common people and mitigate their grievances sooner than later. Political parties have been right when they say that the government is not visible anywhere in Jammu and Kashmir especially in the backdrop of heavy snowfall and rains.
