The incessant rains and landslides have forced the continuous closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, triggering a massive shortage and forcing people to postpone their weddings.
According to the Mutton Dealers Association, "More than 150 weddings scheduled across the Valley have been deferred due to the unavailability of mutton." This has happened due to the persisting bad weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir over the past several weeks, which have brought massive destruction to the UT.
Several patches of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway got washed away due to landslides and flash floods. Authorities, meanwhile, are continuously working to restore the highway. The mutton dealers in Kashmir have expressed serious concerns over the shortage of livestock in the valley, which has forced hundreds of families to postpone their marriages.
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From September onwards, the marriage season in Kashmir begins, which lasts till late November before the onset of harsh winter. Although the government maintains that essential supplies are being routed through the Mughal Road, the dealers alleged that traffic police are violating norms and creating unnecessary bottlenecks.
“Right from Lakhanpore, trucks are stopped at multiple points, including Nowshera, Surankote and Poonch. They are made to wait for days before being allowed to move forward, leading to massive cattle deaths and financial losses,” the General Secretary of mutton dealers in Kashmir said.
The Mutton Dealers Association has appealed to the administration to intervene urgently and ensure the hassle-free passage of livestock trucks into Kashmir to prevent further losses and stabilise the market supply.
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