Razdan pass, Z-Gali reopen; Phirkiyan remains closed due to slippery conditions

Srinagar, Apr 24 : Traffic was restored on the Razdan pass and Z-Gali -- connecting dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), with their district and tehsil headquarters in north Kashmir -- after remaining closed for over four days due to fresh snowfall.

However, Phirkiyan remained closed for the fifth successive day on Tuesday for traffic due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions, a Traffic Control Unit (TCU) official told TNN over phone from Kupwara.

Sadhna pass, linking Karnah with Kupwara was through for traffic, he added.

He said traffic to border towns of Machil, Tangdhar and dozens of other areas in north Kashmir district of Kupwara was restored due to reopening of Z-Gali on Tuesday. "The areas were cutoff for four days due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions," he said.

“But, border town of Keran and its adjoining areas remained cutoff for the fifth day on Tuesday due to closure of Phirkiyan,” he said, adding the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for the maintenance of the road, has already pressed into service sophisticated machine and men to clear the snow.

He said traffic on these pass will be resumed only after the snow is cleared and roads become safe for undertaking journey.

“Traffic on Razdan pass, connecting Bandipora with border town of Gurez which is surrounded by Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), was also restored after clearging about three-feet of snow on the road,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora told TNN over phone.

He said traffic was suspended on road on Friday due to snow and slippery road condition.

The road was reopened early this month after remaining closed during winter due to heavy snowfall. Due to closure of the road dozens of villages, including those near LoC, including Neeru, remained cut off with their district and tehsil headquarters.