Kupwara,Jan,23:The season’s first major snowfall on Friday brought life to a complete standstill across Kupwara district, with continuous snow disrupting normal life and plunging the entire region into darkness due to widespread power outages.
Heavy snowfall severely affected traffic movement, as most roads turned slippery and were blocked at several locations. While nearly 1.5 feet of snow was recorded in the plains, the upper reaches including Keran, Machil and Karnah passes received over three feet of snowfall, forcing authorities to suspend vehicular movement on roads leading to these areas.
As per the official status shared by the office of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara to HEADLINES TODAY mentioned that, snow clearance and restoration work is underway on a war footing. Under PMGSY, about 61 percent of road connectivity has been restored so far. The R&B Department, Mechanical Department (65%), Urban Local Bodies (76%) and BRO (47%) are also actively engaged in clearing snow from their respective road networks.
Power supply remains disrupted, with 57 percent restoration on 33 kV feeders, while 98 percent of 11 kV lines have been restored by the PDD. Meanwhile, 26 percent of PHE schemes have been affected due to the severe weather conditions.
To ensure uninterrupted essential supplies, the district administration has already stocked food grains in border areas such as Karnah, Keran, Machil, Jumgund and Kumkadi, which are sufficient till June 2026. Officials confirmed that there is no shortage of essential commodities, and adequate quantities of LPG, petrol and diesel are available across the district.
On the health front, all major health institutions including District Hospital Handwara, SDH Kupwara and NTPHCs are functioning normally with sufficient availability of medicines and emergency drugs. Border areas like Tangdar, Keran and Machil have been supplied with adequate medicines, essential drugs and oxygen cylinders. Ambulances have been equipped with anti-skid chains, and duty rosters of doctors and paramedical staff have been framed to ensure round-the-clock services.
A Joint Control Room has been established at the DC Office Kupwara to monitor the situation, with helpline numbers made public for emergency assistance. District officers have been directed not to leave their stations and remain alert during the ongoing weather conditions.
According to the latest status report dated January 23, 2026, snowfall continues across the entire district, though at a slower pace. All major passes including Keran, Karnah and Machil remain closed, while internal roads in many areas have been cleared. Men and machinery have been deployed extensively to keep vital routes to hospitals, government offices and markets operational.
Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Sharikant Suse personally visited SDH Kupwara and surrounding areas to assess the situation. He also conducted late-night inspections of snow clearance operations, interacting with field staff and issuing on-the-spot directions to accelerate restoration work on critical routes. Emphasis was laid on coordinated efforts among all departments and maintaining round-the-clock operations to avoid inconvenience to the public.
The efforts of the district administration, Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police were widely appreciated by the people, as several medical rescue operations were carried out successfully across Kupwara and Handwara, ensuring timely assistance to patients and stranded residents.
Despite the harsh weather, the district administration remains committed to restoring normalcy at the earliest and ensuring public safety amid the ongoing snowfall.
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