Operation on war-footing to restore traffic to far flung, remote areas in Kashmir

Srinagar: Snow clearance operation was going on war-footing to restore traffic to dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), which remained cutoff for the fourth successive day due to accumulation of snow.

Meanwhile, traffic to border towns of Gurez in Bandipora remained suspended since January 1 due to accumulation of several feet of snow.

“Snow clearance operation to restore traffic on Kupwara-Karnah, Kupwara-Keran and Kupwara-Machil roads has started on a war-footing,’’ an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, said over phone on Tuesday.

He said about 2 to 3 feet of snow has accumulated at Sadhna top, Z gali and Phirkiyan pass, which connects these border towns to the district headquarter in Kupwara.

However, he said traffic will be restored to border towns of Keran, Karnah, Machil and other areas near the LOC in Kupwara only after getting green signal from official deployed on the ground.

An official of Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora told TNN that Gurez, which is surrounded from Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, remained closed for traffic since January 1. “Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, which is already covered over several feet of snow, received fresh snowfall over the weekend,” he said.