Restrictions on movement of people eased, landline services partially restored in Kashmir

Hours after 2G mobile internet services were restored in few districts of Jammu, the landline mobile services in some exchanges of the Kashmir have been restored, officials said. According to reports, seventeen out of over 100 telephone exchanges have been made operational. These exchanges are mainly in Civil Lines area, Cantonment area, airport of Srinagar district, reported PTI.

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.

Telephone line services, including mobile phones and landlines, were suspended in the early hours of August 5 when the Centre abrogated provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier, The authorities restored the 2G mobile internet services in four other districts of Jammu. The four districts are - Samba, Kathua, Reasi, and Udhampur. With this, the total number of districts where people can use the mobile internet has increased to five. Earlier, the services were restored in Jammu district. 

Internet services remain suspended in all other districts of Jammu and Kashmir following scrapping of Article 370. While people in Jammu are being able to make phone calls, the   telecom services are still suspended across Kashmir valley. 

According to authorities, mobile and internet services will be eased and restored in a phased manner.  Meanwhile, schools and colleges in Kashmir, which has been placed under complete clampdown since August 4, will reopen from Monday.

"Schools will be opened after the weekend area by area. Government offices are functional from today. Telecom connectivity will be gradually eased and restored in a phased manner," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said on Friday. 

Kashmir was placed a under a total clampdown on August 5, hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Rajya Sabha that the special status for the state had been revoked.