Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj
At least a thousand truck drivers have been stranded near the Jawahar Tunnel along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for more than a week because the highway has been closed due to heavy snowfall and avalanches.
I was around the area when I came across trucks parked one after another and when the drivers saw a camera in my hand, they requested me to take a video of their plight.
The truck drivers are stranded without any food or water. There are no toilet facilities for them. Thankfully, the locals are helping them with food and water, but that isn’t enough.
“There is no help here. Only people from nearby villages come and help us. They are giving us rice to eat. We are eating rice with salt.”Truck Driver
To make matters worse, the truck drivers told me that no government officials have come to visit them.
“No government official has bothered to come and visit us. Whoever comes, comes only to threaten us. Or, they come to damage our trucks. We haven’t received any help.”Truck Driver
And till now, all that the authorities want is for them to move their trucks. But the drivers refuse to drive all the way back.
“They expect us to drive way back to Qazigund, even further to Sangam. If the routes are closed there, then we will be stuck again. The apples in the truck are rotting.”Truck Driver
Right now, the truck drivers have only one request – to be allowed to go to Banihal.
“Please drop us till Banihal. Drop us till Banihal railway station. There is no water to drink here. Please let us go till Banihal.”Truck Driver
We just hope that the officials hear their plea and provide some kind of support.
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