A first, vehicle rolls into Inshan village

The residents of Inshan village in the hilly Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir saw a wonder – a passenger bus -- rolling into their village first time on Monday.

The entire village was out on the road to have a glimpse of the bus entering Inshan, an event worthy of celebration.

The village has never seen an automobile on its rugged streets ever. However, after years of waiting, the state has now built a road connecting the village to south Kashmir's Anantnag district through a difficult and perilous mountain terrain.

Inshan is few of the luckier ones, as even now there are many villages in Kashmir's Kishtwar district that are inaccessible. The lack of road connectivity makes life difficult for the residents especially during winters.

The state roads and building minister G M Saroori was in Inshan on Monday to welcome the bus into the village.

Saroori said the road connectivity would not only save the lives of people in need of medical attention, but would also make life easier for the villagers.

"It will also help lowering the prices of commodities in the village," he added.

The road connectivity will also provide much needed relief to pregnant women, who had to face many difficulties when they needed medical attention. Some women even died in such situations, he added.