Dozens of villages from Aharbal upto Saidow Shopian, locked in snow

By: Javaid Malik

Aharbal: While the month of March is coming to an end and the spring season has already started, it would be a surprise for many readers to know that the road from Aharbal upto Saidow Shopian is under snow, leading to difficulties to the villagers living on this route.

When this reporter was on the road near Aharbal, an aged lady with a stick in her hand (picture attached with the news item) had a narrow escape when she was about to come under the snow which is melting from the mountain tops. The authorities have failed to clear the snow from this road and the people living in the villages of Mirwani, Raiwattan, Mandowbal Asnoor, Manzgam, Asnoor, Koral, Watoo and Tangmarg have a tough time to clear the road themselves and to go out especially with patients.

It is in place to mention that Aharbal waterfall is known world over and the place Aharbal is on the tourist map of Kashmir. It is unfortunate that even by the end of this March, the villagers living from Aharbal upto Saidow Shopian are reeling under difficulties due to the snow on the road.

While talking to this reporter, villagers have appealed the district authorities especially the Tehsildar of the area to intervene and clear the matter. They claimed that they approached the authorities many times in this month of March for the clearance of snow from this road, but of no use. The villagers said that now they have the fear that the snow can lead to some accident as the authorities are sleeping. The narrow escape of an aged woman before my eyes has made the claims of these villages more authentic.