Baramulla witnesses moderate to heavy snowfall

Baramulla, Feb 20: The north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday recorded moderate to heavy snowfall. The heavy snowfall was recorded in the upper reaches of the district which cutoff several villages from the plain areas.

In the upper reaches of Rafiabad area, a substantial 2 feet of snow was recorded, causing power supply disruptions and isolating several villages from the plains.

Villages severely affected by the snowfall include Ladoo Ladoora, Chatoosa, Khahmuwah, Walraman, Braman, Wohlutra, and more. Despite the efforts of authorities deploying snow cutting machines, the sheer intensity of the snowfall proved challenging. Accumulation on roads persisted, disrupting traffic movement.

In the Uri area, at least two dozen villages remained cut off from the tehsil headquarters due to heavy snowfall. Villages such as Hathlanga, Nambla A and B, Churanda, Batgrah, Tilawari, Thajal, Gowhalan, Nawa to Ronda, Zamroor Pattan, Bujthala, Pringal to Limber, Babagale, Dudran, Paklan, Chotali, Banali, Darakunjan, Jabdi, Trikanjan, and Gagerhill were particularly affected.

Local residents, while expressing their concern, said that following the heavy snowfall the power supply is badly affected in their areas. They said the failure of authorities to promptly clear snow from roads, has led to their confinement to their homes.

Muhammad Sadiq of Churanda while urging the authorities to restore the road connectivity at the earliest said, “The roads are closed here as snow has not been cleared yet. Road connectivity should be restored on a priority basis so that people are not subjected to hardships.”

Demanding swift action, Farooq Ahmad of Banali said that authorities must utilise both manpower and machinery for snow clearance. “The department of PMGSY lacks snow clearing machines, therefore, labourers should be used to clear the snow from the roads,” he urged.