The 72-hour strike called by the transporters and supported by the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF) and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) which started on Monday in the state has thrown life out of gear in valley and other parts of the state.Reports said that scores of students who were scheduled to appear in examinations missed their papers while some students were unaware about the strike call, and face difficulties in making it to the examination centres. “I lost my first 15 minutes due to non-availability of transport. Other students missed the paper,” a BBA student from Verinag told CNS.The students accused Kashmir University of being callous in attitude and said that the Varsity should have postponed the examinations. “For a student living in far flung area, it was really difficult to make it to the examination centre in absence of the transport facility.”Reports said that due to the absence of public transport on roads the commuters too faced acute shortage of conveyance.All means of public transport including buses, mini-buses, taxies, autos, tankers and trucks were off roads in wake of the strike call given by Kashmir Transporters Welfare Association.
Only private vehicles were visible on roads. A large number of commuters were seen walking by foot to reach to their destinations.The transporters have called for a strike to press for their demands including withdrawal of yearly passenger welfare fund and rollback of hike in fitness fees and fees for other renewal of documents.Transporters accuse the government of sidelining their “genuine” demands. Chairperson, All J&K Transport Welfare Association, Tarlochan Singh Wazir told press in Jammu that they approached the state government with their demands on several occasions but to no avail.Reports emerging from other towns of the valley said that the attendance in government and private offices is sparse. An official at DC office Pulwama said that only those employees have come to office who have their own conveyance.Commuters at different bus stops were seen waiving hands at private vehicles for lift. Some got, some did not.The State Road transport buses which are limited in number were seen plying on some routes of the city to shuttle commuters. (CNS)