Srinagar, Jan. 19 -- A quarter of the valley's population is hooked to the destructive habit of tobacco consumption.
Official data of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) accessed by The Kashmir Monitor reveal that 23.7 percent population of Jammu and Kashmir is using tobacco products in one form or the other. Over 20.8 percent is in the grip of smoking while rest is addicted to smokeless tobacco use.
Similarly, the valley has recorded tobacco sales worth Rs 5,530 crore over last seven years.
An official of the J&K Tobacco Control said huge prevalence of tobacco uses, especially smoking stems from the fact that Kashmir has become a highly stressful zone.
"People not only face challenges associated with daily life, but looming uncertainty ...