Srinagar, August 25: Amid the ongoing turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the Valley is reeling under severe crisis, especially due to to non-availability of medicines. The shutdown in the region affected locals badly as there was lack of essential commodities, bringing life to a standstill. According to a tweet by ANI, the Jammu & Kashmir Administration informed that in Srinagar, 1165 out of 1666 chemist shops have remained open while in the Kashmir Valley, there are 7630 retail chemist shops and 4331 wholesale shops, and 65% of the shops remain open.

On reports of shortage of medicines, the administration further informed that all 376 notified drugs are available at government shops and private retailers. Meanwhile, 62 essential/life saving drugs also available and three persons each have been stationed at Jammu and Chandigarh for quick dispatch of medicines and baby food.

As shops, business establishments and all markets remained shut, the supplies of essential commodities have been badly affected across several areas. All kinds of transport continued to remain off the roads in several parts even days after the government's decision of abolishing Article 370. Kashmiri Woman on Flight From Srinagar to Delhi Breaks Down Before Rahul Gandhi, Narrates Her Plight; Watch Video.

According to a report by News 18, people in the Valley are facing inconvenience as medical shops are running out of lifesaving medicines amid lockdown since August 5, the doctors informed. The report informs that there is no exact data available on the number of deaths due to non-availability of medicines. The stocks have already dried up in rural areas, leading to fatalities, the report added. The region has been reeling under severe crisis after the Union government revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Article 370, and divided the restive state into the two Union Territories, J&K and Ladakh.

The report further quotes an incident saying that a man went to over a dozen pharmacies in the Valley to find the medicine, but to no avail. Though the medical shops were open, the medicine was not available. The man, identified as Ali said that his mother, Suraya Begum, 65, had only two days of medicine left, the report added. He rushed to Srinagar too, but despite a massive search of over three hours, the medicine couldn’t be found. Anguished by the prevailing situation, the man went to the Srinagar Airport, booked a ticked to Delhi and fetched the medicine from there.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2019 10:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).