The upper reaches of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district have been isolated from the district headquarters for the past eight days following heavy snowfall, leaving residents in distress.
According to Kashmir Media Service, residents of Machil valley expressed their plight as normal life came to a standstill with over four 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.
“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,” another resident said.—KMS
