Srinagar, Jan 8 (UNI) Border towns of Keran, Karnah, Machil and Tanghdar, besides dozens of other far-flung and remote villages -- including those near the Line of Control (LoC) -- remained cutoff for the sixth successive day on Saturday due accumulation of several feet of snow.

Seven patients were on Friday airlifted from the border town of Tanghdar to district headquarters in Kupwara, where they were admitted to a local hospital.

Meanwhile, traffic to the border town of Gurez and dozens of other far-flung villages remained suspended for the seventh successive day from rest of the valley due to slippery road conditions and accumulation of snow.

“Traffic remained suspended to dozens of far-flung and remote villages, including Kernah, Keran, Machil and Tanghdar, due to accumulation of several feet of snow,” an official of Police Control Room (PCR), Kupwara, told UNI.

He said Sadhna top is under about 5 feet of snowfall while Phirkiyan pass and Z-Gali received about 2 to 3 feet of snowfall earlier this week. “Snow clearance operation has been hampered on Saturday due to fresh very light snowfall since early this morning,” he said.

“Traffic will be resumed to these areas only after clearance of the road and getting a green signal from officials deployed on the ground,” he added.

An official of Police Control Room (PCR) from Bandipora told UNI that Gurez, which is surrounded from Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK) from three sides, remained closed for traffic for the seventh successive day on Saturday. “Razdan pass, connecting Gurez, Neeru and dozens of other areas near LoC with district headquarters Bandipora, received over 2.5 feet of fresh snowfall this week,” he said.

He said the snow clearance operation in Gurez was halted after fresh 3 to 4 inches of snow was received at Razdan pass and adjoining areas.

UNI BAS RHK1225