Dozens of far-flung, remote areas remain cut off for fifth day in Kashmir
Srinagar, Jan 14: Dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), remained cut off from their respective districts and tehsil headquarters in north Kashmir from the past five successive days following moderate to heavy snowfall.
“Roads to Machil, Keran, Karnah and Tangdhar remained closed since Thursday night, following intermittent heavy snowfall,” a Police Control Room (PCR) official told UNI over the phone from Kupwara.
Similarly, he said dozens of other far-flung and remote villages too remained cut off from their tehsil and district headquarters after closure of Sadhna top, Z-Gali, Phirkiyan pass and other passes due to moderate to heavy snowfall. But, efforts are being made to clear the snow and restore traffic on these roads also.
The traffic on the roads, connecting these areas with Kupwara town, resumed on Tuesday after remaining suspended for three days due to snowfall.
Meanwhile, the border town of Gurez, surrounded by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, besides Neeru and dozens of other villages also remained cut off from district headquarters Bandipora since Friday evening due to accumulation of snow and slippery road conditions.
Traffic on the road, which connects Gurez and other dozens of villages with Bandipora, was restored on Thursday after remaining suspended for over a week due to accumulation of snow. “But, the road was again closed on Friday evening due to snowfall,” a PCR official told TNN over the phone from Bandipora.
He said it is highly unlikely that the road will again be put through for traffic during winter months. “Huge snow has accumulated on the road and the clearance operation has become very tough as the snow has become very hard due to mercury dropping several degrees below freezing point,” he said.
The district administration claimed that all essential commodities, including rice, sugar, atta and kerosene oil have been stocked in the areas which remained cut off from district and tehsil headquarters during winter.
However, efforts are being made to make sure these areas remained connected throughout the year.