Significant improvement of situation in Srinagar

Increased public activity in Srinagar - the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir - hinted at return of normalcy in the city, even as some other facets of life continued to remain affected due to the separatist- sponsored strike.
"Public transport has significantly improved in Srinagar and elsewhere. Apart from cabs and auto-rickshaws, a large number of buses are plying in the city," officials said.
They said there has also been a significant increase in inter-district transport connecting the summer capital with the other district headquarters of the Valley.
While most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut across Kashmir, many of these outlets were open in few areas in the interior city, in the civil lines as well as in the outskirts of the city.

"The situation has improved a lot.More shops are now opening and there is more transport with each passing day.The vendors are doing business as usual.All this hints at return of normalcy in the city, where many routes witnessed traffic snarls," they said.
However, most of the schools and other educational institutions were closed.

They said similar reports of increased public activity were received from most of the other district headquarters of the Valley
The separatists, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation since the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani n July 8, have been issuing weekly protest programmes.
They have been announcing periodic relaxation in the strike on few days of the week. They have announced a 15-hour relaxation from 4 PM this evening.

As many as 86 people, including two cops, have been killed and several thousand others injured in the ongoing unrest in the Valley. Around 5000 security forces personnel have also been injured in the clashes.