This Article is From Oct 06, 2014

No Eid Bustle at Lal Chowk in Flood-Ravaged Srinagar

Srinagar: All these years, Srinagar's business hub, Lal Chowk, has been the centre of bustling activity at Eid. This year, however, it looks like a ghost town.

Due to last month's floods - Kashmir's worst in a century - hundreds of shops of Lal Chowk are still dark and covered in rubble. Its famous clock tower has lost its time, and instead of the aroma of food and sweets, a stink now envelops this deserted commercial area.

"It's not just about this Eid, I think Lal Chowk will not be seeing the  Eid in many years to come because the losses business community has faced is humongous and it will take lots of time to rebuild," said Raja Muneeb, a local resident.

The business has now moved about five kilometres away to the Old City, which used to be the traditional market for Eid shopping a century ago.

The Old City was not affected by floods, and today, the two parts of Srinagar look like two different worlds - one full of lights, the other in darkness.

The traders in Lal Chowk have lost everything, except hope.

"God willing, we will rebuild this market, we will work hard and restore its glory," said Mushtaq Ahmad, a trader.

Initial estimates suggest businesses here have lost about Rs 70,000 crore, Lal Chowk being the epicentre of the devastation.

On the eve of Eid, Lal Chowk used to be Kashmir's biggest fair for shoppers - today the valley has a desolate heart. There is no Eid in Lal Chowk.
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