Mutton dealers suffer huge losses after livestock trucks stopped for over 48 hours on Srinagar-Jammu highway

Srinagar, May 3: Mutton dealers from Kashmir Valley suffered huge losses after traffic police stopped trucks carrying livestock towards Valley on the Srinagar-Jammu highway for more than 48 hours.

All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association said that stopping trucks carrying livestock was ‘unwarranted’ and they are shocked over the callous attitude of the traffic police for not responding to their distress calls.

“We called SSP Traffic National Highway. There was no response, even the SSP Traffic didn’t bother to respond to our text messages,” All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association told the news agency Kashmir News Trust adding that the control room officials also didn’t listen to them.

The Association said that at least 48 trucks laden with livestock were stopped near Udhampur on Dhor Road. “Despite repeated requests, drivers were not allowed to move ahead.”

The Association added that every truck suffered a mortality loss of 2 to 3 sheep. “The estimated loss due to ‘unnecessary’ stoppage of trucks is over Rs 25 lakh. After forcing to stop for over 48 hours, these trucks were allowed to move towards Valley at 5 PM on Tuesday.”

Notably, the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir Mr Arun Kumar Mehta had recently directed authorities to ensure hassle-free movement of trucks on the national highway. He had asked authorities not to stop any truck on the highway.

“I was supposed to supply meat to several parties but failed to do so, as the supply didn’t reach in time,” said Mehrajuddin Ganaie, one of the members of All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association.

He said mutton dealers have been continuously facing huge losses as this business has become a source of losses instead of profit due to the callous attitude of the authorities.

SSP Traffic didn’t respond to the phone call, however, one of the traffic officials said that trucks were halted due to one-way traffic near the Nashri area as it is prone to landslides. “If we allow two-way traffic near Nashiri, there will be a traffic jam and it may pose a risk to lives,” he said. [KNT]