Amid restrictions and road blocks people are reviving the age-old practice of water transport using various routes here in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.
People in the district are transporting goods and travelling to other places amid restrictions using age-old routes through River Jhelum and Wular Lake,
River Jhelum is proving more helpful these days than the macadamized but blocked roads here in Bandipora. Donga-boats (shikaras) are used to move from one place to another in the district.
Even some boats are being used to reach Sopore, Srinagar, Patan and Baramulla.
The voyage of the passengers towards other parts of valley starts from Lankrishipora, Kulhama, Kehnusa Ghat and Ashtangoo in the district.
After leaving Bandipora, the travelers first stop at Adipora, Haigam, Sumbal, Hajin, or Banyari.
Most of the voyages culminate at Shadipora near Srinagar city.
“Roads have been blocked by the troopers and we are using Shikaras to ferry passengers from one place to another,” said a boatman, Muhammad Afzal of Kulhama, adding, “We have put around twenty boats on service for the people who have are stranded in various villages or who are in need of reaching another towns during curfew.”
“Ferrying passenger in boats through River Jhelum is safe and easy, we are avoiding the sight of troopers and carry passengers to their destination like Srinagar and its adjoining areas,” said Muhammad Ashraf, another boatman.
“I helped a large number of students studying in other states of India to reach Srinagar Airport,” said boatman Mubashir in Lankrishipora.
Even many students who had to write NEET exam few days back were ferried to Srinagar in boats, he said.
Besides ferrying curfew victims, few boatmen are carrying passenger including students, employees to other parts of valley especially Srinagar city.
Moreover people from Bandipora town are using boats to move towards other villages of district like Hajin, Banyari, Sumbal, Shahgund, Prang, Ajas, Saderkoot, Aloosa, Kema, Watlab, Adipora and Spore.Even the essential commodities and goods are being transported via boats from one place of the town to another.
Though, the boatmen in Bandipora have re-introduced this water transport voluntarily free of cost, but the employees are being charged 300-500 rupees each to reach the Srinagar city.
It is here pertinent to mention that boating through the city was the long and established tradition of people here until May 11, 1905, when the first car came to Kashmir. The River Jhelum was then the major waterway and lifeline of Kashmir. People in the valley and visitors from outside used to travel only through River Jhelum.
Locals residing in villages along Wular Lake told Kashmir Post that the whenever there were constant restriction across the valley people use water transport to avoid the blocked roads to evade protesters and forces’ harassment.
People reviving age-old water transport amid restrictions in Valley
