Day 132: Signs of normalcy in parts of Valley, Train services partially resumed

Some shops opened while passenger vehicles plied in some areas of the city and other towns of the Kashmir Valley on Thursday where banks witnessed the heavy rush of customers.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the ongoing unrest in Kashmir today rose to 86 as an elderly man injured in security forces action against protesters two weeks ago succumbed at a hospital here.

Ghulam Mohammad Khan (70), who was hit by a tear smoke shell fired by security forces on protesters at Anchar locality of Soura on November 2, succumbed to injuries at a hospital this morning, a police official said.

Elsewhere in the Valley, normal life remained affected for the 132nd consecutive day due to the unrest triggered by the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in July.

Shops, fuel stations, and other business establishments were shut in Srinagar as well as in other district headquarters of the Valley due to the strike called by the separatists, officials said.

They said while the annual board examinations were currently on, the class-work in schools, colleges, and universities remained affected due to the unrest.

Most of the public transport in the Valley was also off the roads.

However, in some areas in the civil lines and the outskirts of the city here as well as in some other towns of the Valley, few passenger vehicles were seen plying, the officials said, adding few shops were also open in these areas Some inter-district cabs, connecting the summer capital with other districts of the Valley, were also plying.

Many vendors have put up their stalls along TRC Chowk-Batamaloo axis through Lal Chowk city centre, while banks were also open across the Valley and witnessed the rush of customers.

The separatists, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation since Wani’s killing in an encounter with security forces on July 8, have announced two full days of relaxation on Saturday and Sunday in the agitation programme — the first full day relaxation since July 8.

Meanwhile, after remaining suspended for over four months due to ongoing unrest in the Valley, the rail service connecting north and south parts of Kashmir resumed partially today, officials said.

The full operations are expected to start within the next 10 days, they said.

The rail service resumed from Budgam to Srinagar Railway stations after completion of necessary restoration work on damaged infrastructure and tracks, the officials said.

They said the service was resumed along the 11.5 km axis after a trial run yesterday.

“Two trains were scheduled to run on the route today, one in the morning and another in the evening,” they said, adding the passenger turnout was very low but is expected to pick up in the coming days.

The Railway authorities are working on a plan to resume normal operations along the 120-km track between Banihal in south and Baramulla in north Kashmir within next 10 days, the officials said, adding restoration work on the damaged infrastructure and tracks are in full swing and expected to be completed shortly.

Northern railways suspended the service as a precautionary measure on July 9 following widespread protests over the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir a day earlier.

The unrest has left 96 persons dead and thousands others injured.

The railways suffered heavy losses due to the damages and disruption in its services.

“The signal boxes, junction boxes, wiring and other infrastructure have been badly damaged during the unrest,” the officials said.

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