On 16 August, B. V. R. Subrahmanyam – the chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, announced that the government will lift lockdown and remove some restrictions in a phased manner in the Kashmir Valley.[79] According to Reuters, telephone services were to be resumed in parts of Srinagar on 16 August 2019, only to face delays in implementation.[80] Landline phone services, indicated Subrahmanyam, would be restored in most of Srinagar by 18 August 2019.[79] Central government was adamant about reopening schools in the valley in the week of 19 August 2019 amid curfew-like situation.[80] However, when some schools were opened in the valley, several media reported that children did not go to schools at all.[81][82] According to Subrahmanyam, "12 of 22 [Jammu and Kashmir] districts were already functioning normally, and measures have been put in place to ensure zero loss of lives on any side or serious injuries to anyone.