Deep snow forces grieving family to shoulder child’s body in Shopian

Shopian, Feb 1: Family members of an eight-year-old boy who died in Srinagar on Sunday morning were forced to carry his body on their shoulders through deep snow to reach their native village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, after road access remained cut off following heavy snowfall.

The deceased, identified as Yasir Ahmad Kallas, a resident of Krispathri village in Shopian, had been shifted to Srinagar for treatment after falling ill. He died early Sunday, family members said.

Following his death, Yasir’s body was transported to Shopian town. However, with the road leading to Krispathri still blocked due to accumulated snow, the family and relatives had no option but to carry the body on foot to the village. Residents said the group walked  through four to five feet of snow to reach their home, under harsh weather conditions.

“The road, via Rambiara , to our village has been cut off since the snowfall,” said Riyaz Ahmad, a resident of Krispathri. “Authorities cleared snow only up to halfway. Beyond that, the road was completely blocked, leaving us with no option but to carry the body ourselves.”

Ahmad said the snow was so deep that even carrying the body on a cot was impossible. “We had to lift the body on our shoulders. Walking through the snow was extremely difficult, but we had no choice,” he said. Villagers said Krispathri remained disconnected from the district headquarters for days due to heavy snowfall.  They said residents have repeatedly appealed to authorities to clear roads, especially to remote and snowbound areas, but with little response.

“This is not just about one family,” said another local resident. “If a medical emergency happens, there is no way to evacuate patients. We don’t even have a bridge connecting the village”, he added.  The incident has once again highlighted the challenges faced by residents of remote villages in south Kashmir during winter, where snowfall often disrupts road connectivity for weeks.