Islamabad (Anantnag), Jan 13: Many villages in this south Kashmir district are facing acute shortage of water, power and other essentials. Besides, there are several villages which are still cut off as snow has not been cleared off the roads till date.  
 Residents of many villages in Kokernag area, including Vailoo,Larnoo, Dandipora, Gawran, Andarwan, Gadole, Narwapora, Bedihad, Andarwan and adjacent villages told Greater Kashmir that their taps are running dry while the electricity has not been restored yet.
 “Our women folk have to walk several miles in this freezing temperature to fetch water from streams,” said the villagers adding that electricity disappearing has compounded their problems further.
 They said that the authorities have not even cleared the roads of snow and many villages are yet to be connected to tehsil headquarter Kokernag while it has been partially cleared at certain places leaving the roads slippery and thus prone to accidents. 
 “Though we apprised the authorities about our problems but our pleas seem to have fallen flat on deaf ears,” said the villagers.
 The slippery road even consumed a life of a 60 year old man in Nihama area on January, 10 while there are reports of several injuries. Ghulam Muhamad Bhat, 60, of Nihama, reportedly slipped on the main road last week injuring himself seriously.
 He was rushed to the district hospital Kulgam where from the doctors referred him to SKIMS where he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday evening.
 In Shangus tehsil residents of many villages including Ranipra, Andoora, Rakhibrah, Kotihar and Andoora also complained about acute water shortage and no electricity.
 “The government has only been making tall claims but the reality is that they have not even bothered to clear roads of snow not to speak of restoring power and water supply due to which people particularly the patients are suffering,” said Farooq Ahmad.
 He said there are no life saving drugs in the health centers. “We cannot take patients to sub district hospital or district hospital as villages are still cut off,” Ahmad added.
 Residents of Supart, Tangipora, Khiyan, Adigam, Bangihal complained that their area is reeling under complete darkness and has been without water supply since last Friday. Ghulam Muhamad of Supat said, “Administration did not even bother to send snow clearance machines to the area and only used a tractor to partially remove the upper layer of snow from the main road making it slippery.  Dozens of villagers have been injured during past few days,” he said.
 In Damhal Hanjipora area of the Kulgam district the villages of Ringat, Zradoo, Sarmarg, Daniw Kandimarg, Bangiward, Chaki Rambirpora, Nandmarg, Homepathri, many villages in Halqa Khuri Batpor, Tangmarg and Ahrabal are without water and power supply.
 The villagers also complained that people are running short of essential supplies including kerosene, ration ad LPG. Furthermore, they say that many villages are still blocked as snow has not been cleared of roads.
 Reports of shortage of water supply and electricity have also been received from several villages of Pulwama, Shopian and Tral villages. In Tral, people allege that several villages are still cut off from the Tehsil headquarters due to non clearance of snow.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST