Kupwara upper reaches remain cutoff, snow clearance gains pace

Kupwara, Jan 25: The upper reaches of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district remained cutoff from district headquarters on the third consecutive day, thus leaving the people in agony.

Karnah, Machil, Keran, Budnamal, Jumagund, Kumkadi and other upper reaches are still cut off leaving passengers stranded in these areas.

People from Machil told Greater Kashmir that due to snowfall in the area, normal life has come to a standstill. Habibullah, a local, said that people were suffering due to closure of road. He said that the entire Machil was reeling under darkness due to lack of electricity. “Although PDD officials were on job to restore electricity in the area but I think it will take them few more days to restore the electricity,” he added.

The people from Karnah voiced the same concern, saying that the whole area was reeling under darkness due to lack of electricity in the area. “We are really suffering due to lack of electricity and most importantly the blockade of road has added to our miseries,” Ashfaq Ahmad a local from Karnah told this correspondent on phone.

Similarly electricity was yet to be restored in Keran, causing immense hardships for the people. “We have been reeling under darkness for the past three days and the Almighty knows how many more days we will have to wait to get electricity,” Ferad a local told Greater Kashmir.

The residents of Sarmarg, Manidora and Check Sarmag in Rajwar area of Handwara have also expressed concern over power outages in these areas. “Not only electricity but roads of Manidora and Check Sarmarg are yet to be cleared,” said Javid Ahmad.

Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse, said that efforts are underway to clear snow from roads in all upper reaches of the district. He added that electricity restoration is also in progress and, if weather conditions remain favorable, power supply will be restored. “Machil road has been cleared as of late evening, while around 90 per centof Keran road has been cleared of snow,” the DC said.

Regarding Karnah road, he said that only ten kilometers remain uncleared, with the rest of the road open. He expressed hope that by tomorrow morning, traffic would resume on both Keran and Karnah roads.