Fuel stations remain closed, 500 stranded trucks cleared, shortage likely to end by tomorrow: Div Com
Srinagar, Jan 11: Almost all the fuel stations in Srinagar and other adjacent areas remained closed on Saturday due to shortage of fuel. This comes barely 12 hours after the government spokesman stated that over 150 oil tankers were deported to Srinagar from Kud.
According to the wire service— the divisional administration Kashmir held meeting with oil companies three days ago and had directed them to build up stock.
The commuters had to face tremendous hardships since the wee hours of this morning as almost all the fuel stations across Srinagar and other adjacent areas remained closed.
The workers at the fuel stations as per the commuters said that their pumps are running short of fuel as no fresh fuel has been received by them in past few days.
Commuters as per witnesses 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 further said that the shops who were selling petrol in black also remained closed due to shortage of petrol. Many of the commuters were seen carrying cans and were moving from place to place in search of fuel.
It is worth to mention here that the fuel stations witnessed a huge rush of commuters who were seen refilling the tankers of their respective vehicles and were also taking fuel in cans amid reports of shortage of fuel in Kashmir.
On late Friday evening, 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 told that 500 trucks that were stranded at Patni top 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)
