In occupied Kashmir, normal life continued to remain paralysed as the worst ever lockdown entered its 40th day, today, with schools, markets and other business establishments closed and public transport off the roads. Communication links including mobile and internet services and TV channels are snapped in the entire Kashmir valley and areas of Jammu region since 5th of the last month the day India scrapped Kashmir’s special status.

Meanwhile, In a media interview President of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries Sheikh Ashiq Ahmad has said that occupied territory incurred 3,900 Crore rupees loss in 39 days of lockdown.

He further said that vacant houseboats and deserted hotels presents a grim picture of the tourism sector in occupied valley. Expressing the deteriorated economic situation of occupied Kashmir, he said hundreds of the youth have lost their jobs as majority of the hotels in the valley have downed their shutters in absence of tourists.

NNR/Khokhar/Abid