For the past eight days, the upper reaches of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have been isolated from the district headquarters following heavy snowfall, leaving residents in distress.
Residents of Machil valley expressed their plight as normal life came to a standstill with over 4 feet of snow blanketing the area, rendering even the inner roads impassable.
The closure of the main road to Kupwara, coupled with the inaccessibility of inner roads due to accumulated snow, locals said, has left them unable to move freely.
“We are facing issues. We are facing shortages of food and other essential items, and health facilities are lacking,” lamented ex-Sarpanch of the area, Muhammad Habibullah.
He appealed to the District Commissioner, Army, and other authorities to expedite efforts to clear the roads.
The dire situation has stranded patients both in Machil and Kupwara, exacerbating the urgency for road clearance. Locals noted their inability to even navigate within the area due to the snow-covered terrain.
“We live in a far-flung area and there are a number of issues which we are facing; the authorities must prioritize road clearance so that we are able to move and replenish the essentials.”
Meanwhile, officers from the district administration in Kupwara said that efforts were underway to clear snow from roads in all the upper reaches.
Machil out of bounds even after 8 days
