Srinagar: BSNL's landline phone service has become a lifeline for the people of Kashmir as mobile phone service in Jammu and Kashmir has been discontinued since August 5. Taking precautionary measures to keep law and order in place on the repeal of Articles 370 and 35A, the administration canceled all phone services and internet facilities in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5.

After the closure of mobile phones and landline connections, the Communication service was completely stalled, due to which millions of people of the state had lost contact with the outside world. Kashmiris were unable to contact their friends, relatives and children studying in educational institutions and their business from outside the state was also affected.

Providing relief to the people, the administration decided to restore the BSNL landline phone service in the state in a phased manner after 20 August. State government spokesman Rohit Kansal said that out of 96,000 landline phones, 80,000 phones have already started functioning, although broadband internet facility is still canceled.

With the closure of mobile phone service, BSNL landline service has become the only means of communication between the valley and the outside world. A senior BSNL official in Srinagar said, "This has led to a huge crowd of potential customers in all the BSNL offices in the valley."

He said, "Customers who had left the BSNL landline connection are now paying arrears to restore their phones." In addition, thousands of other people have applied for new landline connections in the last five days. '

"Our employees are working day and night to maintain uninterrupted connectivity in the exchanges, while the staff posted at the headquarters are busy processing applications for new connections," he said.