Shut highway pushes essentials beyond people’s reach

Srinagar, Sep 7: Prices of essential commodities and perishable goods have surged sharply across Kashmir as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remains closed for the sixth consecutive day following landslides triggered by heavy rainfall last week.

The Srinagar-Jammu highway, Kashmir’s main surface link to the rest of the country, continues to be impassable, causing severe disruption in supply chains and impacting both consumers and businesses.

Heavy downpour has further hampered restoration efforts. “The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is still closed for vehicular movement. Restoration work is ongoing, but people are advised not to undertake their journey until the road is cleared,” a Traffic Department official said.

Local markets have witnessed sharp price increases.

Chicken is being sold at Rs 180 per kg, while a tray of 30 eggs costs Rs 230 to 250.

Vegetables including onions, are priced at Rs 60 per kg, gourd Rs 80, bitter gourd Rs 120, and beans Rs 130 per kg.

Fruits, including apples, plums, and pears, have also become costlier while supplies are severely disrupted.

Fruit growers say they have been forced to delay harvesting due to the highway closure.

Bashir Ahmed, a Shopian-based fruit grower, said, “We are in the harvesting season, but we cannot send our fruits to markets outside Kashmir. This delay risks spoilage and financial losses for growers like us. We rely on timely transport to ensure fruits reach major markets fresh, and any disruption directly affects our livelihood.”

Mutton dealers and poultry suppliers are struggling amid the ongoing marriage season.

Nazir Ahmad, a Srinagar-based mutton supplier, said, “We usually supply large quantities for weddings, but the highway closure has brought business to a standstill. Meat and poultry cannot reach customers on time, causing losses for traders and leaving consumers frustrated. This season, when demand is high, such disruptions are particularly damaging.”

President of the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation (KTMF), Muhammad Yaseen Khan, painted a broader picture of the crisis, saying: “The highway closure is a serious blow to trade. Supply chains are collapsing, perishables are spoiling, and opportunistic black-marketers are hiking prices. Alternative routes like the Mughal Road are being used, but they cannot handle the heavy traffic required for bulk supplies. Traders face financial losses, and consumers are forced to pay more. Authorities must urgently coordinate restoration, regulate prices, and create contingency plans. Kashmir cannot continue to face repeated disruptions that destabilize the supply chain and the local economy.”

Consumers have expressed growing frustration over escalating prices.

Shabnam Bano, a Srinagar resident, said, “I had to pay almost double for vegetables today. It is becoming very difficult for ordinary families to manage daily essentials. There is a dual effect – business suffers, and consumers are forced to pay more. Despite modern technology, we do not have roads that remain open year-round.” With continuous downpours expected over the coming days, traders, consumers, and authorities remain on high alert as supply disruptions threaten to keep prices elevated, disrupt weddings, and strain local commerce.