The closure of the Srinagar–Jammu national highway, once again due to heavy rains, has thrown life in Kashmir into chaos. Every time this vital artery is blocked, the Valley is held hostage to shortages of essentials. But this time, the crisis has reached a new tipping point—the scarcity of petrol has threatened a complete breakdown of daily life.
Since last evening, serpentine queues outside filling stations have become a disturbing sight across towns and cities. Tempers are fraying, and in several places, the scramble for a few litres of petrol has already culminated in law-and-order situations. People desperate for mobility—be it for work, medical emergencies, or daily survival—are being pushed to the brink. The government, meanwhile, seems utterly helpless, repeating the old cycle of assurances without presenting any sustainable solution.
The dependence of an entire population on a single highway is nothing short of a policy failure. How many times must Kashmir suffer this vicious cycle before serious alternatives are explored? Why is there no robust buffer stock mechanism, no reliable alternative route, and no contingency plan in place? Each crisis exposes the fragile governance and lack of foresight that punishes common citizens most.
The petrol scarcity is not just about fuel—it is about stability, livelihoods, and dignity. It is about ensuring that ordinary people are not reduced to begging for a few litres of fuel in their own homeland. This is a wake-up call for authorities to end their helplessness and start acting like a government with a plan. Kashmir deserves more than crisis management; it deserves long-term solutions.
