Flood-ravaged Srinagar traders hold protest

Traders hit by the floods in Jammu and Kashmir Saturday held a peaceful protest march here against the alleged apathy of the state and central governments to provide relief to them.

Dozens of local traders shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly not allowing international relief to the flood-ravaged Kashmir Valley.

The local economic reconstruction forum, an amalgam of various trade, commerce and business establishments organized Saturday's protest "to expose the government's failure in undertaking relief and rehabilitation operations after the floods".

The traders, gathered in city centre Lal Chowk, said it has been over a month since the flood submerged their businesses in Srinagar and they are still unable to re-start their businesses.

The traders alleged the government was delaying intervention by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank in Kashmir's reconstruction.

The traders are blaming insurance companies in delaying payments of insurance claims and also the local J&K Bank for not providing immediate financial relief.

The main commercial hubs of Srinagar city, including the Residency Road, Maisuma, Lal Chowk and Hari Singh High Street, were devastated by the floods that hit these areas Sep 7.