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

Srinagar, Nov 23: Dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including border towns of Keran, Karnah, Tanghdar and Machil, were again cut off on Monday in north Kashmir due slippery road conditions following fresh snowfall.

Meanwhile, traffic to border town Gurez in Bandipora remained suspended since November 14 due to accumulation of about three to four feet of snow.

“Traffic was suspended to dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including Machil, Kernah, Keran and Tanghdar, due to slippery road conditions following fresh snowfall since late last night,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, told agency over phone on Monday.

He said Sadhna top, Z gali and Phirkiyan pass received about a foot to 1.5 feet of fresh snowfall since last night.

This is the third time that traffic was suspended to these far-flung and remote border areas due to snowfall this month. The traffic to Machil, Kernah, Keran and Tanghdar was restored last week after remaining suspended for several days due to slippery road conditions.

An official of Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora told UNI 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 since late last night hampering the snow clearance operation,” he said.

He said Razdan pass received a foot of fresh snowfall overnight while other places, including Dawar and Tulail Valley, recorded 8 to 10 inches of fresh snow. “It is highly unlikely that traffic on Bandipora-Gurez road will be restored any time soon,” he added.