Cong workers detained during protest in Jammu
JAMMU: Scores of Congress workers, including former youth president Pranav Shagotra, were detained here on Saturday after they tried to take out a march in protest against the “unprecedented” power crisis in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress workers gathered at Exhibition Ground for a protest demonstration to highlight the power crisis being faced by the public, especially in Jammu region where the mercury had crossed 40 degrees Celsius mark on Friday.
Shagotra said the BJP-controlled administration has pushed this region into complete chaos and confusion. “System appears to be completely collapsed as masses are struggling to get basic amenities like power and water, but those at the helm of the affairs are still in the deep slumber,” he said while addressing a massive protest of party workers at Jammu.
Lambasting the J&K administration for “adopting inhuman approach”, Shagotra said the helplessness of the government to purchase power during summer is a clear indication that the present regime is least concerned about people.
On the PM’s Palli rally, Shagotra said that government
funds, which were “shamelessly misutilised” for the political event were sufficient enough to buy power for three months.
Shiv Sena’s J&K unit on Saturday also demanded early announcement of summer vacation in schools in view of the heatwave with prolonged power cuts.
Meanwhile, a bus of an elite private school caught fire while it was parked on the premises on Saturday. “We noticed smoke in the bus, which might be due to technical fault or heat. The fire was controlled within half an hour. All the students and teachers were safe as they were inside the school,” said an official.
Region records marginal dip in mercury
Jammu city recorded the maximum temperature of 40.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday, slightly lower than the season’s high of 41 degrees the previous day, officials said.
The day temperature in Jammu city was 4.8 notches above average during this part of the season, a spokesperson of the meteorological department said.
Srinagar’s day temperature settled at 26.2 degrees and the night temperature at 12 degrees Celsius.
The weatherman has predicted mainly clear to partly cloudy weather till May 2.