Kargil: Shortage of Essential Commodities Amid Lockdown

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the 21-day lockdown owing to the coronavirus crisis, locals from Kargil are staring at acute shortage of essential commodities. Locals said that there is shortage of day-to-day essentials. It should also be mentioned that Ladakh remains cut off from the rest of the world, due to the heavy snowfall.

"Ladakh has been disconnected since December 2019 after heavy snowfall at Zojila pass. BRO has claimed that they have cleared the snow on the National highway which connects Srinagar to Kargil on March 20. But due to the recent pandemic, the road was declared to have been closed until the end of this month. Now, a countrywide lockdown has been announced till April 12. Kargilities are facing a huge essential commodities crisis," said Sajjad Kargili, a human rights activist from Kargil.

The situation is even more difficult for the daily wage labourers and workers who have come from other parts of India, especially Bihar.  "Daily wagers, workers and others are facing lack of essential commodities like rice, aata, milk and vegetables," said Kargili. 

Across Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, beelines of people were seen outside the grocery stores shortly after the announcement by the prime minister.

So far, Ladakh has seen 13 cases of infection, out of which, two have been cured. No fresh case has been reported during the past five days, a senior government official was quoted as saying by The Economic Times, on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a 24*7 toll-free national helpline number 1075 has been activated for support, guidance and health related queries on the novel coronavirus.