Communication services are slowly being restored in Jammu and Kashmir, nearly two weeks after they were suspended following the Centre's announcement on August 5 to abrogate Article 370 and bifurcate the state.
On Saturday morning, ANI reported that 2G mobile services have been restored in the districts of Jammu, Reasi, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur. PTI reported on Saturday that officials had said landline services in 17 telephone exchanges of the Kashmir valley had been restored. These exchanges are mainly in Civil Lines area, Cantonment area, airport of Srinagar district.
The landline services have been restored in Budgam, Sonamarg and Manigam areas of central Kashmir. In north Kashmir, the services have been restored in Gurez, Tangmarg, Uri Keran Karnah and Tangdhar areas. In south Kashmir, the landline services have been made operational in Qazigund and Pahalgam areas.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B.V.R. Subrahmanyam had said on Friday that telecommunications connectivity would be gradually eased and restored in a gradual manner.
Subrahmanyam had said on Friday, "You will see gradual restoration from tonight and tomorrow onwards. You will find a lot of Srinagar functioning tomorrow morning. BSNL takes a couple of hours to get back to action. Exchange by exchange, they will be switching it on. Over the weekend, you will have most of these lines functional."
The communication lines had been suspended due to the threat of protests against the Centre's actions and possibility of terrorists using them to undertake terror attacks.
(With PTI inputs)
