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18 Telephone Exchanges Restored In Kashmir, 10 More To Restore Today

18 Telephone Exchanges Restored In Kashmir, 10 More To Restore Today
Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Chandigarh: The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is expected to restore more telephone exchanges in the valley today. On Saturday, it has restored 18 of the 96 telephone exchanges in Jammu and Kashmir.

While speaking to HuffPost India, Rana Ashok Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager, BSNL informed that while five exchanges were made operational in Srinagar on Saturday, over a dozen will be made operational on Sunday.

“At present over 12000 telephones are working in the valley. We are expected to restore over 13000 more phones by today evening. The restoration is being done in a calibrated manner in the valley and surrounding areas,” said Singh.

The major telephone exchanges made operational in the valley includes Badami Bagh cantonment, Rajbagh, Uri and Gulmarg in Baramulla district, Tanghdhar in Kupwara, Ganderbal, Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Qazigund in Anantnag district, old and new Airport area.

The partial restoration has indeed brought a huge sigh of relief for the families of the armed forces personnel deployed in Kashmir. Due to blackout of the entire communication network, the families were not been able to talk to the army personnel posted in Badami Bagh cantonment area situated in the heart of the Srinagar city.

According to sources, the army officers except the Commanding officers of respective units were prohibited to even use satellite phones to communicate with their families back home. They were asked to use the phone strictly for official purpose.

Also, the Union Government has initiated the process of easing of restrictions in the Kashmir by opening the schools and government offices on Monday.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.