BSNL services resume after 2 days in Rajouri

Our Correspondent

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Rajouri, July 21

For the last more than three months, frequent damage to optical fibre cable (OFC) between Rajouri and Jammu and snags developed in the Rajouri Telephone Exchange has badly hit Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) subscribers in Rajouri and Poonch districts.

The services were resumed at 5 pm today. On Wednesday, the services were resumed at 7 pm after more than 10 hours, due to damage to the optical fibre cable near Akhnoor.

“On Thursday, the BSNL services, including landline mobile and Internet, went out of services due to damage to OFC and were restored at 5 pm. In the absence of Internet, people are finding it difficult to get in touch with their relatives, friends or family members in Kashmir, as only BSNL services are functional in the Valley these days,” said Naseer Ahmed, a resident.

Frequent breakdown of services has badly hit the working in government and private offices and in the banks. Long queues can be witnessed in offices, banks and especially in front of ATMs.

“The network operator’s optical fibre cable has been damaged twice during last two days due to digging of road between Akhnoor and Jammu. Technicians from Jammu and Rajouri went to the spot and services were restored at 4.30 pm,” said a senior BSNL officer.

BSNL contractors are laying an optical fibre cable between Jammu and Rajouri exclusively for the use of the Army. To execute the work, JCB machines are being used to dig the road which frequently damage the already laid optical fibre cables, resulting in snapping of services in both Rajouri and Poonch districts.

HK Verma, Chief General Manager, BSNL, Jammu, said every effort was being made so that the subscribers may not suffer but frequent damage to the optical fibre cables has been creating trouble for the BSNL authorities who were already facing resentment from the people.