PEERZADA SAYEED
kARNAH: The Karnah-Kupwara highway, closed due to snowfall, reopened for traffic on Wednesday, allowing hundreds of people and the bodies of two deceased individuals to travel from Kupwara to Karnah. Following weather improvements, Beacon authorities commenced highway restoration work, and by late evening, stranded vehicles were permitted to proceed from Kupwara to Karnah, carrying hundreds of passengers. Among them were individuals who had traveled to Srinagar for work and two deceased whose bodies had been held in the Handwara morgue. Additionally, residents from Karnah had gathered at Chowki Bill, awaiting the reopening of the road for two funeral processions.
Beacon officials cautioned of the ongoing risk of avalanches and falling debris, yet they continued with highway maintenance to ensure mobility. Recent rains have damaged roads and destroyed twenty houses in various parts of Karnah, leaving some communities isolated and facing significant challenges. In Jada Karnah, residents reported damages from rainfall on the Kandi Jada road, which has also prevented sick individuals from accessing medical care at the Tangdar sub-district hospital. Other areas like Jabri, Gundi Gojran, and Durgar remain disconnected from the tehsil headquarters.
On Wednesday, during a press conference, SDM Karna Zafar Ahmad Lone remarked that while there was no flood risk, landslides and soil erosion had caused substantial damage, affecting some homes and a mosque in Gundi Gojran. He reported that rescue operations had been conducted to relocate affected individuals to safer locations and advised against conducting prayers in the damaged mosque. Restoration efforts for the area were underway, and he expressed gratitude that there were no casualties due to the severe weather. Lone also mentioned a large-scale initiative to repair roads with the involvement of various agencies, promising resolutions to ongoing issues faced by the communities.
