Srinagar, Jan 8 (GNS): Claims of administration having pressed into service hundreds of machines and thousands of men notwithstanding, there was no let up in the difficulties encountered by the people of Srinagar where many lanes and by-lanes continued to be clogged up with snow on Friday.
“It has been three days since the snowfall stopped but our lane remain blocked,” said residents of Naribal Amda Kadal. “It is not the case that the lane is small that a JCB or snow clearance machine cannot enter. On a normal day, big trucks and tippers carrying construction material easily pass through the area,” they said. “It is not the case also that the snow has fallen for the first time. Last year there was heavier snowfall than this year,” they said and urged the authorities to clear the road.
As per meteorological department, this year Srinagar witnessed 50.1mm of snow while last year 62.1mm was recorded on January 14.
“Note: The record says that such snowfall is not NEW to our region. Happens almost every year. Even last year on 13-14 January heavy snowfall occurred in our regions,” the MeT department underlined.
Resident of Bota Kadal area of Srinagar said that piles of snow remain to be cleared from the lanes, leading to severe problems.
“Our lane falls on the left side connecting Naribal towards old post office. Huge piles of snow have accumulated and remains unattended,” the residents of the area said. “One house owner at the entrance of the lane deployed labourers to clear the lane but rest of remains clogged up with snow,” they said, adding, “What if there is any medical emergency. The government must take steps to clear the roads.”
Residents of adjoining areas also alleged that snow has not been cleared. Despite repeated attempts, the concerned Ward officer of the SMC could not reached.
Meanwhile GNS received number of calls from various areas of Srinagar including Eidgah, Rainawari, Buchpora, Nowshera and Lal Bazar with people alleging that snow has not been cleared.
The Mayor SMC Juanid Azim tweet: “4 SMC JCBs, 7 SMC loaders, 2 mini loaders in addition to 11 Privately hired JCBs and 6 privately hired tractor mounted machines out for snow clearance of lanes and by-lanes in #Srinagar.”
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar in a statement issued on Thursday evening hailed the “patience” of people and cooperation with the district administration even as he had “assured of earliest possible clearance of snow from all remaining lanes and by-lanes across the district.”
“Smaller lanes where machines could not reach were cleared manually. Thousands of men were pressed into service for manual snow-clearance — these included hundreds deployed by the R&B alongside some 3000 SMC workers,” he had added.
GNS correspondent from Pulwama reported, quoting eyewitnesses that Auqaf committee of Rahmoo Pulwama had to hire a JCB on their own in order to evacuate a pregnant woman who developed labor pain. An official of the local district administration that concerned are working on war footing at the same time, saying that the snowfall has been heavy. Residents of Rampora Rajpora in Tehsil Dangerpora Sopore told GNS that the area continue to be blocked with snowfall. (GNS)
