Dozens of far flung, remote villages remain cut off in north Kashmir

Srinagar: All roads leading to far flung and remote villages, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), in Kupwara and Bandipora in north Kashmir remained closed for the past about three weeks due to accumulation of several feet snow.

The main roads from district headquarter Kupwara to border towns of Keran, Karnah, Machil and Tangdhar remained closed as there was two to three feet of fresh snowfall at Phirkiyan, Z Gali and Sadhna pass, an official of Police Control Room (PCR) told UNI over phone from Kupwara on Sunday.

There was also about two feet of fresh snowfall in the Kupwara town and adjoining areas recently, he said.

He said though snow clearance operation was launched on different roads but fresh snowfall has badly affected the operation.

The border town of Gurez, surrounded by Pakistan-Administered Kashmir (PaK) from three sides, besides Neeru and dozens of other villages also remained cut off from district headquarters Bandipora since January 11. There was fresh snowfall during the past two days, particularly at Razdan pass.

“A massive snow clearance operation continued on war footing from both Gurez and Bandipora sides to put through the road,” an official of PCR told UNI over phone from Gurez.

The Government of India (GoI) and state government have already sanctioned construction of a tunnel at Razadan pass to connect border town of Gurez with district headquarter Bandipora throughout the year. The road remained closed during winter due to snow.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioneer, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan has issued avalanche warning in Kupwara and Bandipora during the next 24 hours. People in avalanche prone areas are directed to remain indoor.