 S Tahir-ul Haq
Early Times Report
KUPWARA, Jan 6: Fresh snowfall has crippled life in border areas of north Kashmir districts. The heavy snowfall compounded the problems of the people in many villages who were already facing acute shortage of essential commodities including water and power.
Sources told Early Times two vehicles including passenger vehicle was skidded off from the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road near Danakhan area and plunged into the gorge, however one passenger was injured who was later on shifted to nearby hospital for treatment.
However people have also complained about acute shortage of essential commodities during winters due to which they suffers at large, said sources.
They said that, the fresh snowfall compounded the problems of the people in many border and high altitude villages like Keran, Karnah, Machil, Kalaroos, Gagal, Kamkadi, Budhnumbal, Chowkibal Marsari, and Jumagund.
Sources from Bandipora district said that the upper reaches of the district including Chuntimullah, Kudara, Dardpora, Athwatoo and Gujarpati remained cut off from the main town due to accumulation of snow on the link roads.
Several villages in Hajin block Banyari, Madvan Chrengpora, Preng, Paribal and Shahgund were also remain cut-off as snow was not cleared from link roads, sources informed.
Bashir Ahmad of Naidkhai Bandipora said that, the Power Development Department (PDD) has resorted to unscheduled load shedding in the metered as well as non metered areas in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.
"Accusing the government of adopting an indifferent attitude towards the people's grievances, the common masses are not having any option except to raise anti-PDD and anti-government slogans to lodge their resentment. Angry people, including women and children, are abusing the PDD as they were forced to pay power tariff as the curtailment schedule has not been shown by the department so for, locals alleged.
They said that the voltage is so low that it fails to illuminate even a small room. We are having no choice but to take dinner in candlelight.
Meanwhile people from some far flung areas of Kupwara district telephoned early times and said that, the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department has failed to provide adequate drinking water as damaged pipes have been installed at various places in this border district. Fact of the matter is that, the central government is investing huge amount in Jammu and Kashmir, but the concerned department has failed to provide the proper services effectively to dozens of villages, including Kalaroos, Batnar, Trehgam, Shumnag, and other areas of this border district. |
