Early Times Report
Srinagar, Jan 30: Snow clearance operation was restarted on a war-footing on Thursday to restore traffic to dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), which remain cutoff due to accumulation of snow.
Border towns of Keran, Machil and dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including those near the LoC, remained cutoff since January 13 in north Kashmir due to accumulation of 7 to 8 feet of snow. Traffic on road leading to border town Gurez, which is surrounded by Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, remained suspended for the past over a month due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of several feet of snow.
”Snow clearance operation to restore traffic on Kupwara-Karnah, Kupwara-Keran and Kupwara-Machil roads was restarted on Thursday on a war-footing following improvement in weather,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, said.
He said most probably, traffic on Kupwara-Keran and Kupwara-Karnah will take two days to resume. However, he said snow clearance on Kupwara-Machil road will take more time, as over 7 to 8 feet of snow has been accumulated at various places.
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.
But, earlier this week, choppers of Indian Air Force (IAF) were used to evacuate passengers stranded at Gurez for over a month due to closure of the road.
A police official told that about five to six feet of snow was accumulated at some places on the road, adding several inches of snow has accumulated due to fresh snowfall.
”About 80 per cent of the road has been damaged and it is highly unlikely that these areas will be reconnected to district headquarters before March,” he added.
The government has approved a tunnel at Razdan pass to make it an all weather road. |
