Locals apprehensive about them of being Covid carriers, Dist Admin to look into the issue
Arjumand Shah
Srinagar : The sudden arrival of non-local street vendors in Srinagar areas has made the srinagarities apprehensive about them being covid carriers.
According to news agency KINS, many residents of Srinagar questioned the authorities to check how a large number of non-J&K street vendors have managed to set up stalls selling juice, fruit and also fried vegetables etc on city roads. “This is really a cause of worry. At a time, when entire Kashmir is fighting the pandemic, these non-locals have arrived in large numbers. We are not against their arrival, but the question is have they been tested anywhere for the Covid-19? Can’t they be potential virus carriers,” asked waseem Ahmad, a local resident of Jawahar Nagar area of Srinagar.
Non-J&K residents could be spotted at Jehangir Chowk area of Srinagar. Many of them were selling fruit, coconut and juice on small carts. One of them identified himself as Ravi Kumar. When asked when did he arrive in Srinagar, he said that he never left the city and was in Srinagar only. His assertions surprised many local vegetable and fruit sellers.
“I haven’t left Srinagar since last year and I am living in a rented accommodation with other people from Bihar,” Kumar said.
He said at least nine people including him are living in a rented room at Rajbagh area of Srinagar.
An elderly man who identified himself as Ghulam Muhammad Khan, present on the occasion, said God knows whether Ravi is lying or speaking truth. “Kashmir is sitting on a Covid bomb. I myself saw many non-JK residents selling juice at Chattabal and Safa Kadal areas,” Khan said and left.
An official told news agency KINS that there has been a robust system for screening of all arrivals be that locals or non-locals at the airport as well as on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. “We will still check through our special teams how these non-locals have started setting up their carts in Srinagar parts,” the official from the Srinagar administration said. (KINS)
