Hirra Azmat
Srinagar: On the fourth day of Eid-ul-Azha, most offices here wore a deserted a look, as employees in didn’t turn up for work.
The state observes holiday for two days on Eid-ul-Azha, which was celebrated on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, the employees didn’t return to offices on visit to several offices on Friday and Saturday, causing inconvenience to people.
This reporter visited the Directorate of Aids Control Society office at Samandar Bagh here on Saturday, and spotted a peon and a few lower-rung officials moving back and forth outside the building.
The other employees associated with the directorate were absent.
“We opened the office quite early today, but to our surprise, hardly anyone showed up, including the Director. This is the height of callousness,” an official, wishing not be named, said.
Office of Director Colleges, located in the directorate’s vicinity, also wore a deserted look.
Middle-aged Farooq Ahmad had to return dejected, as he could not find anyone to do his work.
“I came here for the official work, but no official is present in this section. An employee of another section told me to come on Monday as most of employees didn’t attend duties on Friday and Saturday,” said Farooq, in a dismal tone.
The office of the Superintendent Engineer, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, in the same building remained locked.
Most employees associated with the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, located in the Old Secretariat here, also stayed home, as did those working in the departments of Social Welfare, Power Development, Public Health Engineering, and Public Works.
“I visited the Public Works Department in Srinagar, but most employees were not present there,” Mohammad Abdullah, a resident of Habak here, said.
Scores of delegations from various parts were seen fuming outside the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar’s office over non-availability of the officials.
Divisional Commissioner, Baseer Ahmad Khan, said, “I will soon look into the matter and take the required measures.”
