In Pictures: What Srinagar looks like at night as restrictions in Valley ease up
In Pictures

In Pictures: What Srinagar looks like at night as restrictions in Valley ease up

Despite reports that the situation in Kashmir is peaceful, day-to-day life is not the same. ThePrint looks at life in Srinagar three weeks after the scrapping of Article 370.

   
Markets and vendors are slowly opening up again, but as restrictions remain, life in Srinagar is still interrupted | Praveen Jain | ThePrint Team

Markets and vendors are slowly opening up again, but as restrictions remain, life in Srinagar is still interrupted | Praveen Jain | ThePrint Team

Srinagar: Over three weeks have passed since the Narendra Modi government revoked special status in Jammu & Kashmir and bifurcated it into two Union territories — Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere, said officials Tuesday. But day-to-day life in the Valley remains affected.

Markets across the Valley remained shut for the 23rd consecutive day along with shops and other business establishments. Private educational institutions continued to remain closed. Though government schools had opened, student attendance was low, the officials said.

Public transport has been barely functioning, increasing the use of private vehicles in the state capital. Officials say the communication blockade has eased to some extent and landline telephone services have been restored in most places. However, mobile services and internet, including BSNL’s broadband and private leased-line internet, still remain snapped in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk and Press Enclave.


Also read: To understand Modi’s new Kashmir reality, these 5 liberal myths need to be broken


At night, life in Srinagar looks even more still.

Security personnel have become a permanent fixture in central areas like Lal Chowk (pictured here) and other popular areas. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Dal Lake, a popular tourist destination in the city, is now mostly deserted. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Lal Chowk, usually a scene of bustling activity given the many shops that line the city square, was shuttered and barricaded for the first week of the lockdown. Though restrictions have eased, the market is yet to come back to its vibrant self. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
In Delhi, the Supreme Court has directed pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370 to a 5-judge constitutional bench, and the government has set up a Group of Ministers to look into issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
Fruit vendors in Srinagar, including here on Sonawar Road, have seen business drop. The sight of a photo journalist caused several to quickly scuttle away or turn away from the camera. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Also read: Kashmiris are thankful to Modi for one thing — ‘finishing’ Abdullahs and Muftis


On Batwara road, a shop or two function with their shutters half drawn, ready to make a quick exit if the need arises. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
The Old Secretariat road in Srinagar. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint
The Modi government has promised that with Jammu and Kashmir being made a Union Territory, opportunities will open up and spur the economy. As restrictions remain, that reality is hard for locals to imagine just yet. | Praveen Jain | ThePrint

With inputs from PTI


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