Snowfall paralyses life in Kupwara; power supply disrupted, several roads unclear
Kupwara, Jan 23: Widespread snowfall across north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Friday brought normal life to a standstill, with several areas remaining cut off from the district headquarters and residents facing severe hardships due to power outages, water supply disruption and poor road connectivity.
The snowfall, which began overnight, continued till late evening, resulting in an accumulation of around one to one-and-a-half feet of snow in the plains, while upper reaches recorded three to four feet. The heavy snowfall disrupted the electricity and drinking water supply across large parts of the district, forcing residents to rely on candles and alternative lighting sources after sunset.
Slippery road conditions were reported at several locations, including Watayin, Langate, Talri Bridge and the Kupwara bypass, where both private and public vehicles remained stranded for hours. Police personnel and local residents later assisted drivers in clearing the traffic bottlenecks.
Residents from several areas of Upper Rajwar said many roads had not been cleared of snow, causing serious inconvenience. Similar complaints were received from Sarmarg in Handwara, where residents alleged that their area remains cut off for days whenever snowfall occurs.
In Kupwara town, residents complained of severe waterlogging, blaming the Municipal Council Kupwara for clogged drainage systems.
They said lanes, particularly along the bypass road, become nightmarish during snowfall or rainfall. Similar scenes were reported from the main market area of Handwara, where shopkeepers and pedestrians were forced to wade through water due to inadequate drainage.
Several structures were damaged across the district due to snowfall. The building of Government Primary School Muqam Yahama in the Mawer area suffered major damage after a tree uprooted by the snowstorm fell on it.
A residential house belonging to a specially-abled man, Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Kralgund, also sustained extensive damage. Additionally, the rooftop of a house was damaged in Gundimacher Margi area of Kupwara.
Multiple medical emergencies were reported amid the adverse weather. A pregnant woman stranded in the remote Laddha Kalaroos area was evacuated to a nearby hospital by locals with assistance from Police Post Kalaroos. In another incident, a pregnant woman in Sheenipora, Vilgam, was rescued by locals and police personnel from Police Station Vilgam, who carried her on a makeshift cot through deep snow to a hospital. A young woman and a heart patient were also evacuated from Vilgam to GMC Handwara by the Indian Army in its vehicles, a move widely appreciated by locals.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Shrikant Balasaheb, said men and machinery had been pressed into service to clear accumulated snow from roads. “We are making all possible efforts to ensure that people do not face inconvenience. Helplines have been established at every tehsil headquarters to deal with emergencies,” he said.
Upper reaches of the district, including Karnah, Keran, Machil, Budnamal, Jumagand and Kumkadi, remained cut off following heavy snowfall. Officials said Sadhna Top in Karnah, Z-Gali in Machil and Ferkin Top in Keran received more than four feet of snow, forcing the suspension of traffic on these routes.
While the snowfall disrupted daily life, farmers across the district welcomed it, saying it would help replenish groundwater and improve crop yield in the coming season. Authorities have advised people to remain cautious while travelling, as road conditions may further deteriorate, while efforts continue to restore essential services across the district.
