Harrowing time for passengers as heavy snowfall in J&K blocks dozens of roads

Srinagar, Jan 8: Roads to dozens of far flung and remote villages, including near the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir remained closed since Saturday following accumulation of several feet of snow due to which road has become very slippery.

Meanwhile, all the passengers who got stranded at Sadhna top on Saturday after their vehicles stuck in the heavy snowfall, were rescued. A woman died due to cold in the area.

Traffic on the roads, connecting border town of Keran and Tanghdar besides dozens of other villages, with district headquarter Kupwara, has been resumed after remaining two days on Saturday and Monday, official sources told TNN on Tuesday morning.

They said dozens of villages, including near the LoC, were cut off with their respective district and Tehsil headquarters due to slippery road conditions following snowfall on Saturday.

The border areas of Karnah and Machil and other far flung and remote villages were cut off with district headquarter Kupwara due to snow, they said. A fresh Western Disturbance (WD) is approaching the region which could result in heavy to very heavy snowfall from January 10 till 13.

The Razdan top, connecting dozens of border areas, including Gurez, which is surrounded by Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) from three sides, with district headquarter Bandipora remained closed due to about two feet of snowfall yesterday, they added.

Majority of these roads remained closed for six winter months due to heavy snowfall.

Meanwhile, authorities claimed to have stored all essentials, including rice, atta, sugar, kerosene oil, LPG cylinders and medicine for winter months in areas which remained cut off due closure of roads.