Though snow clearance operations have already been started but there are very less chances for early reopening of most of the roads. Accumulation of several feet of snow has also frozen due to sub zero temperature, said officials. He also added that fresh snowfall has also been forecast for tomorrow besides avalanche warning.
“Roads to border towns of Machil, Keran, Karnah and Tangdhar remained closed since Thursday night, following heavy snowfall”, a Police Control Room (PCR) official told UNI over the phone from Kupwara.
Similarly, he said dozens of other far-flung and remote villages too remained cut off from their tehsil and district headquarters after closure of Sadhna top, Z-Gali, Phirkiyan and other passes due to moderate to heavy snowfall.
On Thursday traffic on the road which connects Gurez and other dozens of villages with Bandipora, was restored after remaining suspended for over a week due to accumulation of snow.
“But, the road was again closed on Friday evening due to snowfall”, a PCR official told UNI over the phone from Bandipora.
The district administration claimed that all essential commodities, including rice, sugar, atta and kerosene oil have been stocked in the areas which remained cut off from district and tehsil headquarters during winter.
However, efforts are being made to make sure these areas remained connected throughout the year.