Srinagar: Normal life resumed across Kashmir on the first day of five-day relaxation, the longest called by the separatists since the current unrest began in the Valley.The separatists while announcing the new calendar last Wednesday deviated from the weekly protest calendar and instead issued a new plan for the next two weeks till the end of this month.All shops and business establishments were open since early morning today, while traffic plied normally on roads in the capital city, other major towns and on the inter-district routes.There was heavy rush of shoppers in markets leading to traffic congestion in the commercial hub of Lal Chowk in the capital city.The roadside vends were also set up even as shops and business establishments remained opened, a practice that would continue for the next four days before Friday.“The Valley is fast heading towards normalcy,” said an official here while referring to the normal life activities going on over the past several weeks.The Valley has been witnessing trouble following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani and two of his associates in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir on July 8.The unrest triggered by the killing paralysed normal life in the Valley for more than five months now. The Valley suffered a severe setback in the vital sectors of economy, tourism and education.While the situation is gradually leading to normalcy, the seat of the state government has shifted to Jammu, winter capital of the state, which began its working from the first week of November. The educational institutions also remained closed during the summer months due to which the normal academic activities were hit hard. Winter vacations for lower classes have already begun. All educational institutions will reopen for the next academic session by early March. (TNS)