Srinagar: The recent increase in the prices of bakery products in Kashmir Valley has left the public concerned. Traditional Kashmiri bakery items such as “cake,” “girda,” “coconut cookies,” and “baqerkhani,” which are an integral part of every household’s daily diet, are now becoming unaffordable for many.

According to bakery owners, the primary reasons for the price hike include the rising costs of raw materials such as wheat, sugar, and other ingredients. They said further the increased electricity and gas bills have further added to their expenses.

A prominent bakery owner said, “We were compelled to raise prices to sustain our businesses. The costs have risen so much that it is no longer feasible to operate at the old prices.”

On the other hand, ordinary citizens have expressed their frustration over the price increase. A local resident said that a couple of days back he bought a cake for Rs 70 outside Kashmir University and today the same cake was handed over to him for Rs 80. “We were already struggling with the continuous rise in the cost of daily essentials, and now even bakery products have become expensive. This is unfair to the poor.”

Another local attributed the price rise to lack of regulation and accountability. “The government must regulate the market prices in the public interest,” he said. [KNT]