Srinagar, May 12, 2020 : Mobile 2G internet was restored inevening on Monday while it was suspended across Kashmir for sixth consecutive day on Monday after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo. The mobile phones too have not been restored yet causing huge inconvenience to people amid Covid-19 pandemic in Pulwama and Shopian districts.
Doctors and the paramedical staff in the twin south Kashmir districts are having a tough time to communicate with each other and coordinate .
Block Medical Officer Shopian’s Zainapora Dr Khalid Abbas talking to media men admitted healthcare system has got affected due to the communication shutdown.
“Due to the suspension of phone communication, the healthcare system has been hit amid Covid-19 pandemic. We are facing difficulties in contact tracing and other Covid related mechanisms,” he said.
According to him, they were not able to communicate with doctors and healthcare workers posted in the district. “This is affecting our fight against Coronavirus. Besides this, the expecting mothers are getting hugely affected,” Dr Khalid added.
People hailing from these two district stranded in different parts of India too are worried about their families back home.
A student of Pulwama, stranded in Haryana in India said that he could not talk to his family and It was only when my dad managed to call me from a BSNL number.
The phone services except for BSNL and internet was suspended in Kashmir on May 6 to prevent pro-freedom and anti-India protests against the killing of Naikoo.