Suhail Khan
Srinagar, May 14 : Around 70 Kashmiris who are stuck in Pondicherry in the southern part of India amid the ongoing lockdown on Thursday appealed J&K administration for their immediate evacuation.
We are around 70 Kashmiris stranded in Pondicheery city of Tamil Nadu since March when the countrywide lockdown was enforced. Authorities so far have miserably failed to take concrete efforts for our evacuation, Imran a Srinagar resident who is among stranded people in Pondichery told this reporter over the phone.
We are running out of food and other items as we have exhausted all money these days amid lockdown, he said.
Imran alleged that Nodal officer also not paying heed to their pleas despite approaching him many times for redressal of their grievances.
Farooq Ahmad another caller told Kashmir Despatch that if Jammu and Kashmir Government had evacuated thousands of Kashmiris in different parts of the country why can’t we. He said some of us are running small scale businesses that completely depend on foreigners. Our most of the shops and accommodation are rental. He said many among us who were working as a salesperson lost Jobs due to this COVID lockdown.
They appealed JK administration to intervene into and ensure their return in these troubled times.
Divisional commissioner Kashmir Pandurang Kondbarao Pole told Kashmir Despatch our help desk have guided them from Pandechery and efforts are on to take them back.
