Meer Irfan
Residents of Shopian town are growing increasingly frustrated over worsening traffic congestion and frequent power cuts, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
Despite repeated complaints, locals say the administration has failed to provide relief, leaving people to fend for themselves.
The town’s main concern remains the chronic traffic mess, particularly on Hospital Road and near the busy roundabout. Illegal roadside parking and careless parking practices have turned daily commuting into a nightmare.
“Every time I visit Shopian, the hospital road and surrounding streets are completely blocked. It’s chaos,” a local resident told The Kashmiriyat.
He said that te Municipal Committee (MCP) has towing vehicles, but they hardly use them. “And what’s worse is that their office is right outside the hospital.”
In a recent incident that has left many shaken, an ambulance was reportedly stuck in traffic for so long that attendants had to carry a patient in their arms to reach the hospital on time. “It was heartbreaking to see. But the administration is completely absent. The MCP seems to be in a deep slumber,” the resident added.
Locals argue that while the traffic police and ARTO (Assistant Regional Transport Officer) are busy issuing challans, no one is addressing the root of the problem. “You can’t just blame the traffic department. The entire system is failing us,” another commuter remarked while speaking to The Kashmiriyat.
Adding to their woes, residents are also battling severe electricity cuts during Ramadan. On the third Sehri of the month, large parts of the town reported no power at all.
“They promised us uninterrupted electricity during Iftar and Sehri, but we haven’t had a single minute of power during Sehri for the last three days,” said another frustrated local. “Where are the officials now? They vanish the moment we face real difficulties.”
For many families without inverters or backup power, the nights have been spent using candles and oil lamps. The anger is only deepening as bills pile up with no service in return.
“We get monthly electricity bills of ₹1800 to ₹1850, yet we sit in the dark,” said a resident. “Honestly, we don’t expect much from the government anymore. And to Omar Abdullah’s administration, I just want to say: Keep your 200 units of free electricity. Just give us the power we’re paying for.”
As Ramadan progresses, the people of Shopian are hoping the administration finally wakes up to their everyday struggles. For now, though, patience is running thin.
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