People take to streets demanding water, power and sanitation

With authorities not much visible on ground after the September 7 floods that devastated most parts of Kashmir, people from various localities Friday staged protest demonstrations here, raising anti-government slogans and blocking busy city roads.
Scores of inhabitants of Abi Guzar blocked Residency Road here, alleging that official apathy continued eversince floods hit the city.
“Government failed to rescue the trapped families in the area. No food and water was supplied to the affected families. Height of the official apathy is that concerned officials have failed to clear the garbage lying in the locality,” said Muhammad Irfan, a protestor.
Muhammad Sultan, an octogenarian said stinking smell emanates from the garbage which could result in breakout of any epidemic if not removed immediately.
Protestors said that the locality is reeling under darkness as PDD officials have failed to restore the electricity in the area.
Inhabitants of Koker Bazar and Court Road also staged a dharna on Residency Road, demanding removal of garbage, restoration of electricity and relief to the affected families.
There are reports of protest demonstrations by the people of various localities in other districts with protestors crying for sanitation, restoration of water supply and electricity.
Meanwhile, scores of delegations from various localities, who visited Greater Kashmir office on Friday, said they have not received any kind of relief material, adding, “When we approach officials they claim truckloads of relief material has already been disbursed in our localities.”
A delegation from Syed Abad Soiteng said that they had visited concerned officials requesting them to disburse relief among the affected families in their locality. “They (officials) said that they have already sent eight truck-loads of relief material to the area but the fact is that we received none,” said Farooq Ahmad Wani of Soiteng.
People from various areas including Habba Kadal, Karan Nagar, Dalgate, Nowpora and Batamaloo also demanded restoration of water and electricity supply besides disposal of garbage from their localities.
Meanwhile, inhabitants of Bismilah Masjid Ghulshan Abad have appealed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to direct concerned officials to restore water and electricity supply to the locality without any further delay.
“We are facing immense hardships in absence of ration, water and electricity. We demand that the services should be restored immediately,” they said.