Petrol pumps dry, rising prices in Valley as heavy vehicles barred on Srinagar-Jammu Highway

Srinagar, Sep 16: The continued restriction on heavy motor vehicles along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway has triggered severe disruptions in Kashmir’s supply chain, inflicting massive losses on fruit growers, creating a shortage of fuel and pushing up the prices of essential commodities.

Authorities on Tuesday kept the highway open only for light motor vehicles from Jammu towards Srinagar, citing major road damage and ongoing restoration work. Heavy trucks carrying apples, vegetables, petroleum products and other bulk supplies remain stranded, unable to move beyond Udhampur.

The blockade has come at the peak of the apple harvesting season, leaving fruit growers alarmed. Thousands of boxes of apples packed for outside markets are lying unsent, raising fears of spoilage and price crashes. Growers say they are suffering daily losses as buyers hesitate to place orders without assured transportation.

The restriction has also led to a critical shortage of petroleum products in the Valley. Several fuel stations in Srinagar and south Kashmir have displayed “no petrol” boards, with long queues forming at pumps that still have limited stocks. Officials acknowledge that supplies of petrol and diesel are running dangerously low because tankers remain off the road.

The scarcity is already hitting household budgets. Prices of vegetables and other eatables have begun to climb steeply in local markets as supplies from outside Jammu are disrupted. Traders say rates of onions, tomatoes and other essentials have doubled in some areas within a week, while milk and poultry are also becoming costlier.

Transporters complain that the prolonged restrictions have left them idle, with hundreds of trucks parked for days. They warn that without urgent restoration of the highway, both growers and consumers will face worsening hardship. [KNT]