SRINAGAR: Snow clearance operation to reconnect dozens of cutoff far-flung and remote areas, including border towns of Keran, Machil and Gurez, was halted due to fresh light to moderate snowfall during the last 24 hours.
Traffic was suspended on road leading to border town of Kernah and adjoining areas in Kupwara on Wednesday due to landslide following fresh snowfall.
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 about a month due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of several feet of snow.
”Kupwara-Kernah road was closed for traffic due to landslide at various places following moderate snowfall during the last 24 hours,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, told UNI over phone.
He said snow clearance operation to restore traffic on Kupwara-Keran and Kupwara-Machil roads was suspended due to fresh snowfall during the last 24 hours.
”Snow clearance on about 12 km of road is left to reach to border town of Keran, but the operation has been halted due to fresh snowfall,” he said.
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.
A police official told UNI that about 5 to 6 feet of snow was accumulated at some places on the road, adding another several inches of fresh 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. (UNI)
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