Dozens of far-flung, remote areas again cutoff in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 20: Dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including border towns of Karnah and Machil, were again cut off on Friday in north Kashmir due slippery road conditions following fresh snowfall.

Meanwhile, traffic to border town of Keran in Kupwara and Gurez in Bandipora remained suspended from about a week due to accumulation of two to three feet of snow.

“Traffic was suspended to dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including Machil, Kernah and Tanghdar, due to slippery road conditions and acumination of over a foot of snow,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, told news agency over phone on Friday.

He said Sadhna top, Z gali and Phirkiyan pass received about a foot of fresh snowfall overnight. The traffic to Machil, Kernah and Tanghdar was restored earlier this week after remaining closed for several days due to slippery road conditions.

He said road leading to Keran remained closed since November 14 due to accumulation of several feet of snow. “The snow clearance operation has been hampered due to fresh snowfall overnight,” he added.

A traffic police official from Bandipora told news agency that Gurez, which is surrounded from Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, remained closed for traffic since November 14. “Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, received fresh snowfall hampering the snow clearance operation,” he said.

He said Razdan pass received a foot of fresh snowfall over night while other places, including Dawar and Tulail Valley, recorded 8 to 10 inches of fresh snow.