Restore connectivity quickly, Omar asks telecom companies

Srinagar, Sep 19 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday asked all private mobile service providers to restore connectivity at an earliest in the flood-ravaged state.

Interacting with representatives of BSNL, Vodafone, Idea, Reliance and Aircel, Abdullah asked the representatives to furnish the power restoration requirement to the government so that optimum power supply is provided.

For more than a week, mobile phones across Srinagar and the rest of the Kashmir valley have not been working, except for those using Aircel SIM cards.

The absence of cell phones and the failure of state-run BSNL’s mobile phone and landline exchanges added to the misery of the flood victims, whose relatives were unable to call them to ask about their welfare.

Meanwhile, a delegation of fruit growers also met the chief minister, and sought immediate assessment of the damage caused and his intervention in facilitating early transportation of fruits to markets outside the state.

Horticulture Minister Raman Bhalla and Minister of State for Health and Medical Education Nazir Gurezi were also present on the occasion.