Srinagar: People in Gurez, which is surrounded by Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) from three sides, continued to suffer as the border town remained cutoff from rest of Kashmir valley since January 1.
Meanwhile, two critically ill patients were airlifted from Gurez valley to a hospital in district headquarter Bandipora for treatment by authorities.
An official of Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora said Gurez and adjoining border villages remained closed for traffic since January 1.
“Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, which is already covered over several feet of snow, received fresh snowfall earlier this week,” he said.
The border town remains closed during six winter months every year due to accumulation of several feet of snow.
Meanwhile, people have been demanded for a tunnel at Razdan pass to make Bandipora-Gurez road an all weather road.
“We have been demanding from successive governments to construct a tunnel at Razdan pass so that Gurez remains connected with rest of the valley throughout the year. People face a lot of problems during winter months as they remain cutoff from rest of the valley for about six winter months,” Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Gurez, said.
However, traffic was plying normally to dozens of far-flung and remote villages — including border towns of Karnah, Machil, Keran and Tanghdar – in north Kashmir district of Kupwara.
An official spokesperson said on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Dr Owais Ahmad, two critically ill patients were airlifted from snowbound Tulail area of Gurez valley to Bandipora for immediate medical relief on Saturday.
“The district administration received an SOS from the family for evacuation of two patients- 80-year-old patient Mohammad Sultan and Khateeja of Neeru Tulail who were in need of immediate evucation for treatment,” he said.
He said the Deputy Commissioner immediately directed to arrange a special chopper to airlift the patient and also personally monitored the operation until the evacuation was completed.
