Srinagar: Snow clearance operation was going on war-footing to restore traffic to dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including the border town of Gurez, which remained cutoff from the rest of Kashmir since January 1 due to accumulation of several feet of snow.
An official in the Deputy Commissioner Office, Bandipora, told UNI that the road connecting the border town of Gurez is likely to be reopened on April 15.
“Snow clearance was almost finished and the Bandipora-Gurez road was to be reopened on April 1. Only about 12 km road stretch was left to be cleared,” he said.
However, he said the road opening date was postponed as Razdan pass and adjoining areas on Bandipora-Gurez road received about 1.5 to 2 feet of fresh snowfall last week. “With the improvement in the weather conditions, the snow clearance operation has been restarted on war-footing to restore traffic to the border town and adjoining areas,” he said.
He hoped that the snow clearance operation will be completed by third week of the April. “There is a wet weather prediction from Sunday. So the snow clearance operation is again expected to be affected during that time,” he added.
The authorities provide helicopter services to ferry patients and other stranded people, including students, from Gurez during these winter months. As many as 150 aspirants appearing in Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) examination were airlifted to Bandipora from Gurez by District Administration Bandipora last month. Similarly, many patients were airlifted from Gurez to Bandipora for medical treatment.
However, the people of Gurez and adjoining border villages have been demanding a tunnel near Razdan pass so that the border area remains connected with rest of the valley throughout the year.
