Dozens of far-flung, remote areas again cutoff in North Kashmir due to snowfall and rain

Meanwhile, fresh snowfall and rain during the last 48 hours has once again delayed the reopening of a road that connects the border town of Gurez and other remote villages in the North Kashmir district of Bandipora with the rest of the valley. However, vehicles were plying normally on Kupwara-Machil road.

“Traffic to dozens of far-flung and remote villages were suspended, including Keran, Kernah and Tangdhar, as a precautionary measure following fresh snowfall and rain since Sunday night,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara shared.

He mentioned that places like Sadhna Top, Phirkiyan Pass and Z Gali received about 6 inches of fresh snowfall on Sunday night, followed by rain during the last 24 hours.

“Traffic to these areas will be restored after improvement in the weather conditions and getting a green signal from the officials deployed on the ground,” he said, adding despite fresh snowfall and rain, Machil and adjoining areas remained connected with the district headquarter Kupwara.

Official sources said that Gurez, which is surrounded by Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, remained cut off from its tehsil and district headquarter in Bandipora over a period of last three months. “The snow clearance operation was almost complete and the repair work was to be started on Bandipora-Gurez road. The road was likely to reopen for traffic on April 15 after remaining closed since January 1,” they added.

But, they also mentioned, the road opening date would most likely be postponed as the Razdan pass and adjoining areas on Bandipora-Gurez road received about 6 inches of fresh snowfall on Sunday night followed by rain during the last 24 hours. “There is a wet weather prediction for about three days till Thursday. So the snow clearance operation is again expected to be affected during that time,” they further informed.

Officials said once the weather conditions improve; the snow clearance operation would be restarted on war-footing to restore traffic to the border town and adjoining areas. The Bandipora-Gurez road was to be reopened for traffic in the first week of April, but the reopening date was delayed due to fresh heavy snowfall last month.

The authorities provide helicopter services to ferry patients and other stranded people, including students, from Gurez during these winter months.

As many as 150 aspirants appearing in Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examination were airlifted to Bandipora from Gurez by District Administration Bandipora last month. Similarly, many patients were airlifted from Gurez to Bandipora for medical treatment.

However, the people of Gurez and adjoining border villages have been demanding a tunnel near the Razdan pass, so that the border area remains connected with the rest of the valley throughout the year.