People continue to suffer as dozens of far flung, remote areas remain cut off in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 15: People living in far flung and remote villages — including Keran, Machil and Gurez — continued to suffer as these areas remained cut off from the rest of Kashmir valley due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of snow.
However, one-way traffic was plying on Kupwara-Karnah road, which was reopened on Monday after three days following clearing of snow and improvement in weather conditions.
“Traffic to the border town of Keran and adjoining areas remained suspended for the fourth successive day on Tuesday due to accumulation of snow,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, said.
He said the border town of Machil also remained cut off from the rest of the world for the eighth day on Tuesday due to accumulation of snow.
He said Z gali and Phirkiyan pass on Friday and Saturday received about a foot to 2 feet of fresh snowfall, which has now frozen due to sub-zero night temperature. “Snow clearance operation has been started in these areas following improvement in the weather,” he said, adding traffic will be resumed only after getting a green signal from officials deployed on the ground.
An official of the Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora told UNI that Gurez remained closed for traffic since December 8. “Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, received fresh snowfall on Friday night and Saturday hampering the snow clearance operation,” he said.
He said it is highly unlikely that the traffic will be restored to the border town any time sooner. The border town of Gurez and adjoining areas remain cutoff from rest of the Union Territory (UT) for about six winter months every year.