Snow alert: Bandipora residents panicky

Mir Tariq
Bandipora, Jan 09: The snow storm alert sounded by the authorities has caused panic among the population here. The authorities claimed that North Kashmir will bore the maximum brunt of the snow storm that is like to struck in two days.
“Almost 55% of population here is residing in the avalanche prone areas”, said Parvaiz Ahmed Mir, Secretary NGO Kashmir Social and Environment Organisation (KSEO). He said that since the people are very poor, the snow storm alert is bound to panicky people and for this very reason they have begun to stockpile the commodities. Villages like Panaar, Muqaam, kitsan, Bankoot, Saderkoot, Doban, Tanghaat, Ajas etc are highly prone to avalanches.Located in the foothills, Bandipora population have started stocking eatables, clothes, gas and kerosene. “After hearing from radio and reading from newspapers about snow storm alert, we have decided to stock pile the essential commodities”, said Muhammad Iqbal Mir, 54. Terming it as a precautionary measure, he said that if snow storm strucks, then they won’t be able to go to plains and purchase the commodities. “The people in plains won’t face any problems, but for those living in upper reaches, the snow storm would close down all roads. We are aware of the snow storm alert and as such have decided to stock rice, clothes and others essentials for people so that they are able to feed themselves during trying times”, said an NGO volunteer, Mushtaq Ahmed.A teacher, Abdul Majid Khan said, “People are poor and cannot purchase more than their daily requirement. We are trying to help them by collecting the essential items for them. As far as infrastructure is concerned, people here cannot face any eventuality”.“We are collecting eatables, clothes and other things every winter for the population residing in higher altitudes. When we heard about the snowstorm alert, we geared our work and pressed out volunteers throughout the district to start collection of items for the downtrodden”, added secretary KSEO.It is pertinent to say here that villages Like“80% of the population from the village Pethkoot have migrated temporarily to plains. The remaining 20% are very poor and have shifted in ‘borrowed’ underground bunkers to protect their lives”, said Muhammed Rafiq. 25 Km away from this district headquarters, the residents of village Sumlar Kudara comprising 700 people (mostly shepherds or wood cutters) are unaware of the alert. After coming to know about snow storm alert from this reporter, vhe village head, Muhammed Samander said “we are always facing snowstorms. It is not new thing for us. Every winter due to heavy snowfall, at least five persons die because government is doing nothing for us”.