Roads to dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), reopened on February 17 after remaining closed for several weeks due to accumulation of snow

Barring border town of Gurez, roads to dozens of far-flung and remote areas, including those near the Line of Control (LoC), reopened on Monday after remaining closed for several weeks due to accumulation of snow and avalanche threat in north Kashmir.

Meanwhile, traffic was playing normally on the road to Karnah from district headquarters Kupwara, which reopened last Saturday after remaining closed for several weeks due to snow.

”Traffic has been restored on Kupwara-Keran and Kupwara-Machil roads on Monday after clearing several feet of snow,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, told UNI over the phone.

He said snow clearance operation was taken up on a war-footing and several feet of snow was cleared to put through traffic on Kupwara-Machil road. ”Snow was also cleared on road leading to Keran,” he said.

He, however, said only one way traffic has been allowed on these roads and vehicles will ply towards Kupwara on Monday from the border areas.

Traffic was plying normally on Kupwara-Karnah road, which was reopened on February 15 after remaining closed for several weeks due to snowfall.

Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, remained closed from last about three months due to accumulation of about 12 feet of snow at several places.

A police official told UNI that about 12 feet of snow was accumulated at Razdan pass and adjoining areas on the road. ”It is highly unlikely that these areas will be reconnected to district headquarter before May,” he added.

The government has approved a tunnel at Razdan pass to make it an all weather road.