Shah Basit
Reports of Kandur bread price hikes across Kashmir have been widely misrepresented, as the situation varies greatly from one district to another.
While Srinagar has seen a steep rise in bread prices, other parts of the valley, including many districts in south and north Kashmir, have reported little to no change.
In Sopore, for instance, only the price of the smaller Kandar bread has increased, rising from ₹5 to ₹7.
Larger breads remain unaffected, and locals say the situation is still manageable. “The price hike is minor here, and it hasn’t significantly affected us yet,” Abdul Majid, a resident of Sopore told The Kashmiriyat.
However, in Srinagar, consumers are feeling the pinch as bread prices have nearly doubled. A single piece now costs as much as ₹10, up from ₹5.
“The rising costs of ingredients like flour and oil, combined with higher firewood prices, are making it impossible for us to keep prices stable,” said Bashir Ahmad, a baker in Srinagar.
Residents are also pointing fingers at the lack of regulatory checks in the capital city.
“There’s no monitoring of bakers or market rates in Kashmir. Each bakery has its own pricing, and we are left to bear the brunt,” said Yasmeen Bhat, a homemaker from downtown Srinagar.
Contrary to reports suggesting a valley-wide crisis, many districts have been spared the price hikes.
In Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama, Bandipora, and Kupwara, the price of Kandar Choet remains steady at ₹5.
“We are fortunate that prices here haven’t changed. Even with inflation, we can manage our daily bread,” said Zahid Ahmad, a resident of Shopian.
Experts say the uneven price hikes are a reflection of economic disparities and logistical challenges rather than a uniform inflationary trend.
The misreporting of this story has caused unnecessary panic among consumers in unaffected districts.
Analysts stress the need for accurate reporting and stronger market regulation to prevent such crises from being exaggerated or even spreading to other districts.
Without intervention, however, the price disparity between Srinagar and other districts may continue to widen, leaving families in the capital city to bear the heaviest burden.