By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar: The cyclone that struck Muscat capital of Oman killing at least twenty-eight people, has also cast its shadow on Kashmir handicrafts industry.
If the people connected with the industry are to be believed Kashmiri traders at Muscat have suffered badly due to cyclone, which damaged the Gulf state’s infrastructure.
Though the exact loss suffered by Kashmiris trading in the country was not immediately know, well informed sources said that at least twenty-five outlets have suffered severe loss, while some others were partially damaged.
“There are more than one hundred outlets owned by Kashmiri handicraft traders in Muscat, while about 200 Kashmiris are directly or indirectly connected with the trades in the country”, Altaf Ahmed Baig, one of the handicraft export trader told News Agency of Kashmir.
He said that the details pouring in from the country was shocking as most of the infrastructure owned and possessed by the Kashmiris have suffered tremendous loss, which has a direct impact on handicraft industry on domestic level.
“The communication system has collapsed in the country as such we do not know the exact details of the loss as yet”, he said adding, “we expect the state government to intervene and enquire about the whereabouts of the Kashmiris in the country”.
Baig was of the opinion that the cyclone in Oman is likely to have its impact on export industry as the country has a great potential of handicraft products. ” Oman is one of the favorite countries for handicraft exporters in Kashmir, who are now a worried lot after the calamity”.
Though there are thousands are Kashmiris in the country, state government was yet to respond and enquire about their whereabouts. Sources said that no step has been taken yet to ensure the safety of the residents of the state in the calamity struck country.
The fiercest storm to hit the region for 30 years forced thousands of people from their homes and left a trail of destruction along the east coast of a country unaccustomed to such violent weather.
The cyclone initially packed winds of 260 kms an hour and was the strongest to lash the Arabian Peninsula since 1977.