Gurez, 2 January 2025: Residents from remote LOC (line of control) areas of Kashmir, including Gurez, Tulail, Tangdhar, and Karnah, on Thursday urged the J&K government to resume helicopter service as road connectivity remains paralyzed due to heavy snowfall.
Locals, including patients needing urgent medical care, said that they are bearing the brunt of these disruptions.
Shabir Ahmad, a local, said, "Our connection to the outside world is severed for weeks during winter. People needing medical care are helpless."
He recalled a previous incident where a pregnant woman had to be carried over 15 kilometers through snow to the nearest health center.
In Tulail, the situation is similarly dire. "We have elderly patients and children needing urgent care, but with the roads closed, survival becomes a matter of luck," said Naseema Begum, a local.
"A helicopter service could provide much-needed relief."
Tangdhar and Karnah face similar challenges. These areas, near the Line of Control (LoC), see heavy snowfall yearly, cutting off villages.
Mohammad Yousuf from Karnah said, "Roads become impassable after a snowstorm. Even basics like food and medicine are hard to get. The government must act soon."
Abdul Rashid, a shopkeeper in Tangdhar, added, "We're not asking for luxury—just survival. A subsidized helicopter service for emergencies and essential supplies would help until the roads are cleared."
Rameez Ahmad, another local, noted, "Only LoC residents understand the pain when roads are blocked. We used to plead with the military to airlift patients, especially pregnant women."
A top official acknowledged the residents' challenges and said steps are being taken. "We will explore the feasibility of helicopter services and increase snow clearance operations," he said.
"Beacon authorities are working hard to reopen the roads, but the helicopter service decision will be made soon."
(Inputs; KNO)