2 women die in Budgam

Srinagar, Jan 30: Residents of different rural areas across the Valley are facing immense hardships in wake of the recent snowfall.

Two women died in central Kashmir’s Budgam district as their family members were unable to shift them to the hospital as roads connecting their villages with the district headquarters were blocked due to fresh snowfall, reports said.

A woman Afroza Manzoor of Kralnewa Khansahab and another woman Sarwa Begum wife of Assadullah Shah of Khosapora Arizal died as all link and main roads in the Budgam district were closed. Their family members could not shift them to the hospital in time.
 Residents of various areas putting up in the outskirts of Budgam town said that since the day snow has struck, their areas continue to reel under darkness and they are facing acute water shortage.

At least two residential houses and a shed got damaged at Tangmarg in held Kashmir. "Residential houses of Muhammad Sultan Magray and Abdul Rashid Magray and cow shed of Abdul Rashid Yatoo of Shrai village got damaged due to snow," locals told Greater Kashmir.

Though power supply was restored in Kunzer township and some adjoining villages but 70 percent populace of Wanigam, Khaipora and Kralweth and Aboord continues to reel under darkness.  Telephone landline cable has got damaged in Kunzar Chanpora due to snow.

Residents of held Kashmir’s Baramulla town said that Power Development Department has failed to restore the electricity in many areas of the district.

Surprised over the failure of the PDD to restore electricity after three days of snowfall, the locals alleged that the administration and PDD are not showing any interest. "This is utter shame for the PDD that they could not deal with 8 inch snowfall. Entire district is reeling under darkness and authorities are unmoved" said Farooq Ahmad, a local resident.

Residents of Pattan said the entire area comprising scores of villages is without power from the past three days. They said no one from the PDD department has turned to repair the lines and poles in the area.

The power situation in Wagoora block has worsened especially after the recent snowfall. The residents of Wagoora said the entire area is without power supply.
 When contacted Executive engineer PDD Baramulla Irshad Ahmad said that power has been restored in most parts and efforts are on to restore it completely. "We have suffered some damage to HT system and are doing our best to rectify the fault. We hope within a day electricity will be restored completely".

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SA/EN