Srinagar, Apr 22 : The ongoing closure of the Srinagar-Jammu Highway due to massive landslides and flash floods in Ramban district has begun to cast a shadow over the Valley’s upcoming marriage season, with a looming shortage of livestock threatening to derail wedding plans.
A senior member of the ‘All Kashmir Wholesale Mutton Dealers Association,’ told that more than 100 trucks laden with sheep and goats are currently stranded at multiple locations, including Rajouri, Poonch, Bafliaz, and Samba. “Each truck carries around 150 animals, and in the suffocating conditions of halted traffic, we are witnessing the death of two to four sheep daily per vehicle,” he said.
The prolonged highway blockade, triggered by Sunday’s devastating weather events, has not only disrupted the essential supply chain but has also exposed the mutton dealers to massive economic losses. “We fail to understand why drivers carrying livestock are not being allowed to move during the evening hours on the Mughal Road,” Mehrajuddin lamented. “The authorities’ silence is deafening. We have been left at the mercy of God.”
The crisis is particularly alarming for families preparing for marriage ceremonies in the coming days. With no fresh supply of mutton entering the Valley and stock at local butcher shops already dwindling, dealers fear an imminent price surge that could make meat unaffordable for many. “If the situation continues for even another couple of days, the price of mutton will skyrocket, and ceremonies will be directly affected,” said another dealer.
In a desperate plea, the mutton dealers’ association has appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene and facilitate the movement of the stranded livestock trucks. “We urge the Chief Minister to issue directions for immediate clearance of the Mughal Road for livestock vehicles. These are not just economic goods, they are tied to people’s traditions, celebrations, and livelihoods,” Mehrajuddin added.
He went on to make a somber appeal to the public, suggesting that marriage functions be postponed if possible. “We are not in a position to guarantee the supply of mutton in the current scenario. If things don't improve quickly, there will be no livestock left to sell,” he warned. [KNT]
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