Sajid Raina
Bandipora, Feb 2: Over 800 passengers are stranded in Gurez and Bandipora due to road closure caused by snow with chopper service suspended for the last two weeks.
The Gurez Valley is connected to the rest of the world by road which remains shut in winter because of snow and the authorities operate helicopter service for the people during these months.
Demanding they be airlifted to their respective places, the passengers said that they were stranded in Gurez from the last two weeks due to closure of Bandipora-Gurez road.
They said that the administration is giving excuses of bad weather for suspension of helicopter service but Army helicopters and private helicopters fly to Gurez valley.
“We urge the government to take steps so that we are airlifted to Bandipora as people are suffering a lot,” said Mushtaq Ahmad, one of the stranded passenger at Gurez.
Haneef Ahmad, another local, said that their repeated pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
“Hundreds of passengers including patients and employees are waiting to be airlifted as they have registered themselves before the concerned authorities for the same,” Ahmad said.
On Wednesday, the Army airlifted a critically sick woman from Dawar to Bandipora. “Timely assistance provided and the patient was Heli lifted to Bandipora District Hospital for further treatment,” the army said.
An official said that the helicopter service will be resumed soon.
