Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 12: Dozens of far flung and remote villages, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), were again cut off in north Kashmir on Sunday due to fresh moderate to heavy snowfall.
Meanwhile, traffic on roads leading to border town Gurez, which is surrounded by Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) from three sides, remained suspended for the 12th successive day on Sunday due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of several feet of snow.
"About 1 foot of snowfall was received since Saturday night in the upper reaches in north Kashmir," an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, said over phone on Saturday.
"Sadna Top and Z-gali received about 1 foot of fresh snowfall since last night," he said.
He said due to accumulation of snow, traffic on different routes, leading to far flung and remote areas, including LoC, have been suspended.
He said three main roads of Kupwara-Karnah, Kupwara-Keran and Kupwara-Machil were closed for any vehicular movement due to accumulation of snow. "The roads are very slippery and it is still snowing in the upper reaches," he added.
People in these border areas allege hardships due to frequent suspension of traffic on the roads during winter. Traffic on Kupwara-Karnah and Kupwara-Machil was allowed to ply on Saturday after remaining closed for four days due to accumulation of snow. Meanwhile, border town of Keran was reconnected to the district headquarter on Friday after remaining closed for three days.
Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, remained closed due to accumulation of snow and fresh snowfall.
The authorities have already pressed into service snow clearance machines and cutters to clear the snow and put through the road, which remained closed for six winter months in the past.
However, he said about 80 per cent of the road has been damaged and it is highly unlikely that these areas will be reconnected to district headquarter before March.
The government has approved a tunnel at Razdan pass to make it an all weather road.
Administration has stocked enough essentials, including rice, atta, sugar, LPG cylinders, medicine at areas which remained cut off during winter with their district and tehsil headquarters in both the district. |
