Kupwara's upper reaches cut off

Kupwara, Feb 3: Kupwara district in north Kashmir Saturday witnessed the season's second snowfall much to the delight of the residents.

The snowfall started in low-lying areas at about 10 am and till evening around 2 inches of snow had accumulated while the upper reaches including Sadhna Top, Z-Gali, Machil, Ferkhian Gali, Keran, Budnamal, Kumkadi, Bangus witnessed around 2 feet snowfall.

The roads leading to the upper reaches including Chowkibal-Karnah, Kralpora-Keran, Kalarose-Machil, Kupwara-Budnamal, and Kupwara-Kumkadi remained closed for vehicular movement due to heavy snowfall.

Earlier traffic was restored on Kralpora-Keran road but due to heavy snowfall in the area, Keran-bound vehicles were stopped at Kachihama to thwart any eventuality.

The upper reaches of Kupwara have been cut off from district headquarters for the past 4 days.

An official said that almost 80 percent of snow was cleared from the roads of upper reaches but the fresh snowfall has made things hard for them.

However, he said that within a few days, all roads leading to the upper reaches would be made accessible.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan later in the day convened a meeting of the concerned officers to review the functioning of designated shelter homes to facilitate the stranded passengers of border areas of Karnah, Keran, and Machil during the closure of roads in the wake of extreme weather conditions.

The district administration for the first time has come up with shelter homes for Machil, Keran, and Karnah.

For Keran, the shelter home has been established at Government High School Meelyal, for Machil the shelter home has been established at Government Higher Secondary School Kalaroose, and for Karnah, the shelter home has been set up at Government Higher Secondary School Panzgam.

Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Kupwara, Irfan Bahadur told Greater Kashmir that every facility had been kept available for the stranded passengers.

He said that heating, water facilities, and food were being provided to the stranded passengers.

“As of now, no one is putting up in these shelter homes but a few days back several persons had taken shelter at the facility put at the Government Higher Secondary School Panzgam,” Bahadur said. “The district administration has extended shelter home facilities to people for the first time. There may be some loopholes but we are trying our best to live up to the expectations of the people.”

Meanwhile, people in hilly areas have hailed the district administration for coming up with shelter homes for the first time.

“Earlier, we would suffer due to the blockade of the road to our area. We would stay in hotels or different Masjids in Kupwara town till the opening of the road. However, this time we don't have to look for alternatives as shelter homes have been set up,” said a local from Keran.