Babus flee flood-hit Srinagar in advance

On Friday when this correspondent visited a number of such offices in Srinagar they presented a deserted picture. “Sahab Jammu main hain (the officer is in Jammu),” said a peon outside the chamber of Managing Director JK SICOP.
Similarly when this correspondent visited the office of Managing Director JK Cements it was locked. The peon said, “Sir has not come here for several days.”
A top government official said that work in the departments involving public dealing has come to a grinding halt. Though lower ranking officials reach the offices but are not able to work in absence of the in-charges.
Sources informed that some low ranking officials prefer to go on leave or not attend offices as they are unable to bear the enormous pressure and work load without the higher officials.
Common people have expressed displeasure over the functioning of government offices.
“I fail to understand that despite full six days of working, they are not attending their offices. I came here from Baramulla to meet the MD Housing Board but his office bearers told me that he will not come here before the Durbar Move. When I went to Civil Secretariat to meet the concerned minister his office was also locked,” said Jehangir Ahmad of Baramulla. KNS