Business and other activities remained affected on Wednesday in most parts of the Kashmir valley, including summer capital Srinagar, where authorities have announced to reopen religious places from August 16, for the first time since March this year when strict restrictions were imposed due to COVID 19 pandemic.
Shops and other business establishments remained closed on Wednesday in Srinagar, where present lock down will end on August 15 evening.
All major business hubs, including Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the city continued to wore a deserted look with only security forces and pedestrian seen moving. Goni Khan and Mahraj Bazar markets roads also remained closed though pedestrians were allowed to move.
The Amira Kadal bridge, connecting Hari Singh High Street (HSHS) with civil lines remained closed. Security forces have closed the bridge with barbed wire and only pedestrians were being allowed to cross using footpath.
There was also no change in the situation at Maisuma, the stronghold of JKLF and adjoining areas. However, private vehicles , particularly two wheelers were seen plying on Budshah Bridge on Moulana Azad road though security forces and police personnel remained deployed. Defying lock down good number of passenger vehicles could also be seen plying on some routes.
Life remained affected in the down town and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK), where shops and business establishments remained closed and passenger traffic remained off the roads. Security forces have lifted majority nakas and other barricades, in several areas, including Nallahmar road. However, only one side of the road was open and private transport was allowed to ply.
The main gates of the historic Jamia masjid, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) remained locked.
In the outskirts of the city some small shops were open and private traffic plying.
Life remained affected other main towns and tehsil headquarters in the Kashmir valley, where lock down was imposed from August Ist to contain further spike in COVID 19 positive cases.