Peerzada Sayeed
Karnah:In the wake of recent heavy snowfall, the vital Karnah-Kupwara highway has been rendered impassable, causing chaos and distress among hundreds of young aspirants scheduled to sit for the Patwari exam on March 31. Additionally, the tragic demise of a 10-year-old child during the snowfall has left the community in mourning, with the child’s body stranded at Chowkibal.
For the past two days, relentless rain and fresh snowfall have blanketed the local areas of Karnah, obstructing the crucial road link between Karnah and Kupwara. The accumulation of up to nine inches of snow on Sadhna Top and the surrounding mountains has further complicated the situation. As evening approached, the weather deteriorated further, with heavy rainfall persisting in Karnah and triggering stonefall incidents in several areas, including Khardi, Kultah, and Chokibal. Authorities have issued warnings against travel to upper areas due to the heightened risk of avalanches and falling rocks.
Meanwhile, frustrated aspirants, unable to reach their exam venue, have staged protests in front of the SDM office in Karnah, demanding the immediate reopening of the highway. Bar Association President, Qazi Mehboob Illahi, has echoed their concerns, calling for a rescheduling of the JKSSB Patwari exam in light of the distressing situation at Sadhna Gali.
SDM Karnah, Zafer Ahmed, confirmed that earlier attempts were made to allow vehicles on the highway when the weather conditions seemed favorable. However, sudden changes in weather led to a rapid accumulation of six to seven inches of snow on the highway, coupled with heavy snowfall in various areas, exacerbating the risk of stonefall incidents. He assured that efforts to reopen the highway will be expedited as soon as weather conditions improve.
The community remains hopeful for a swift resolution to the crisis, as authorities work tirelessly to address the challenges posed by the adverse weather conditions.
