Srinagar, Jan 03: A day after fuel stations across the Jammu and Kashmir valley faced an unprecedented rush, normalcy has returned following the protestors’ decision to call off their strike, reassured by the government.
Reports indicate that on the second day, some fuel stations across the Union Territory (UT) experienced a significant rush. However, by the evening, the situation had normalized, with the majority of the fuel stations resuming operations as trucks and tankers resumed their work.
A petrol pump owner on MA Road, Srinagar, informed Rising Kashmir that they had received a sufficient supply of fuel that morning. He added that the majority of the pumps would have fuel by the evening, reassuring the public that there was no need to panic, as every fuel station was expected to receive stock by that evening. The fuel station owner mentioned that hundreds of oil tankers had already entered the Kashmir valley since last night, and a considerable number were on their way.
Similar reports were received from parts of the Jammu region, where people witnessed a huge rush of vehicles at petrol pumps for the second straight day. However, the fuel supply had normalized there.
A resident, Rohit, told Rising Kashmir that the majority of the pumps in the region were shut down yesterday due to the strike. However, with the fuel truck driver strike called off, operations had resumed, and fuel was now available around the Jammu region.
Concerns among truck drivers have arisen regarding a new law that is set to replace the old Indian Penal Code. The new law, named Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, states that if a driver causes a serious accident due to careless driving and then flees without informing the police, they could face up to 10 years in jail or a fine of Rs 7 lakh.
Responding to the nationwide strike by drivers, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla stated, “The new rule for hit-and-run cases isn’t active. The government will talk to representatives from the All India Motor Transport Congress before putting it into action. We discussed it with them, and the government wants to clarify that the rule hasn’t been enforced. We all agree that we’ll talk to All India Motor Transport Congress representatives before deciding on implementing Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.”
The government stressed that only drivers attempting to escape without informing the police will face these strict consequences. They advise drivers that if they fear being attacked at the accident spot, they can go to the nearest police station or call the emergency helpline number 108 to report the accident without facing repercussions under this new law. The government asserts that the concerns of the protesting truckers are not valid.
“We conveyed our concerns to the government. The law regarding hit-and-run incidents is not in effect yet, and I assure you, we won’t let it happen. We urge you to return to your vehicles and drive without worry,” said Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman of the core committee of the All India Motor Transport Congress.
