Ganderbal, Dec 19: In today’s tech-driven era, a renowned tourist destination in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district continues to lack mobile connectivity despite its picturesque landscapes and historical significance.
Naranag, situated approximately 15 km away from the main town of Kangan, boasts scenic meadows, a historical temple, lakes and mountains. Serving as a gateway for trekking adventures to Mount Haramukh and Gangabal Lake, this village holds immense tourist appeal.
Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), residents of Naranag, recognizing its status as a tourist hub, highlighted the difficulties they face without mobile phone connectivity since its introduction across Jammu and Kashmir in 2003.
The absence of this essential communication tool particularly affects the area’s students, hindering their ability to access the internet and stay connected with their families, said Bait Bashir, a local.
“We struggle to connect to our friends and acquaintances as every attempt to dial a number ends in a network error,” Basit lamented. He said frequent call drops exacerbate their communication woes as conversations are abruptly disrupted due to poor network.
Mubashir Khan, another resident, said, “Our mobile signals vanish suddenly, leaving us disconnected.”
He said the locals of the area have made several attempts to highlight the issue to the authorities but to no avail. The lack of reliable telecommunication infrastructure not only affects the locals but also poses challenges for tourists exploring the scenic Gangabal mountains, Khan said.
Naranag residents have appealed to the relevant officials to pay immediate attention to address their pressing need for mobile connectivity—(KNO)
