Kupwara residents demand winter games in Bangus Valley

Kupwara, Feb 6: Residents of Kupwara district have urged the government to hold winter games in Bangus Valley, saying the move could open up new employment avenues for local youth and promote the region as a winter sports destination.

They said that the Bangus Valley has a vast scope for winter games, so the Omar Abdullah-led government should take concrete steps to hold winter games here from this year onwards.

“Bangus Valley has large slopes which could be used by local and foreign skiers for skiing. Bangus witnesses several feet of snow, and if developed properly, it can render employment to the local population,” a local from Reddi Chowkibal told Greater Kashmir.

The residents said that both Chotta and Badda Bangus have a large scope for holding winter games, so the present dispensation should rise to the occasion and fulfil the genuine demand of locals.

Meanwhile, District Development Council Chairman Kupwara Irfan Sultan Panditpori acknowledged the demand of people. He said that if developed properly, Bangus Valley could certainly be a source of employment for hundreds of locals.

He said that the demand of people would be taken up with the concerned authorities.

“I would certainly take up this issue with the concerned authorities, and hopefully some concrete result would come out,” Pandipori told Greater Kashmir.

Notably, Bangus Valley, located in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district comprises the twin meadows of Badda Bangus and Chotta Bangus. Known for its wide alpine pastures and dense forests, the valley receives a significantly good snowfall every winter, often accumulating several feet, with higher reaches remaining snowbound for months. The terrain features long, gentle slopes suitable for winter sports, but despite its natural potential, the area remains largely underdeveloped compared to established winter destinations like Gulmarg.