Cut off by snow, Gurez, Karnah residents demand resumption of helicopter services

2 January 2025

By: Sajid Raina

Srinagar: Residents of the remote border areas of Kashmir, including Gurez, Tulail, Tangdhar and Karnah on Thursday urged the J&K government to initiate helicopter service as road connectivity to these regions remains paralysed due to heavy snowfall.

Due to recent snowfall, these areas are blanketed under thick snow, rendering crucial roadways inaccessible for weeks or even months. The accumulation of snow on vital roads, including the Bandipora-Gurez Road, Kupwara-Tangdhar Road and the Karnah-Chowkibal route, has disrupted daily life and cut off residents from essential services.

Speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), locals, including patients in need of urgent medical attention, said they are bearing the brunt of these disruptions.

Shabir Ahmad, a resident, said, “Our connection to the rest of the world is severed for weeks during the winter months. People in need of medical care or emergency services are left helpless. Last year, a pregnant woman had to be carried on a makeshift stretcher for over 15 kilometres through the snow to reach the nearest health centre.”

Similarly, in Tulail, another isolated area, the challenges are mounting. Residents lament the lack of alternatives for transportation during emergencies.

Naseema Begum, a local from Tulail, said, “We have elderly patients who need weekly checkups and children who need urgent care. But with roads closed, their survival becomes a matter of luck. A helicopter service could give a big relief to us ”

The situation in Tangdhar and Karnah is no different. These areas, nestled near the Line of Control (LoC), witness heavy snowfall every year, leaving villages stranded. “The roads become impassable within hours of a snowstorm. Even basic supplies like food and medicine are hard to access,” said Mohammad Yousuf, a local from Karnah. “We are living under constant stress during winters. The government must act before it’s too late.”

He said the helicopter service to the snowbound areas is a huge relief and should be started as soon as possible to prevent locals from suffering due to the road closure.

The services, he believes, would not only ensure timely medical evacuations but also facilitate the movement of essential goods and services during the harsh winter months.

“We are not asking for luxury; we are asking for survival,” says Abdul Rashid, a shopkeeper in Tangdhar. “The government should consider launching subsidized helicopter services, at least for emergencies and essential supplies, until road connectivity is restored.”

”Only the residents of the LoC will truly understand the pain during the winter months when roads get blocked. We remain stranded, and during medical emergencies, pregnant women suffer the most. We used to plead with the army to airlift patients to other hospitals for treatment,” Rameez Ahmad, another local said.

A top official, acknowledging the challenges faced by residents, assured that steps are being taken to address the situation. He said the authorities will explore the feasibility of launching helicopter services and strengthening snow clearance operations in these areas.

“Beacon authorities are working hard to clear the roads and connect these areas with the rest of the valley. However, the decision to start the helicopter service, as in previous years, will be made in the coming days,” the official said. —(KNO)