All the 15 families trapped in heavy snow in Galibal Rafiabad area in northern Baramulla district are safe, a top government official said on Friday.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, deputy commissioner Baramulla Nasir Ahmad Naqash said a team of district officials is camping in Hajibal, a village adjoining Galibal, since Thursday.
“The families living in Galibal are safe. We have been able to develop communication with the people there. Scores of people from the affected area reached Hajibal on Friday and they were provided with medicine and other essential items”.
Meanwhile, the army said its team of soldiers sent by the commanding officer of 46 Rashtriya Rifles also reached the affected area on Friday afternoon.
“The team members interacted with the families who are fine but need some medicine and food items,” said commanding officer of the unit, Kashalay Dubey.
The team, he said, is led by captain Thomas and distributed medicine among the families.
On Thursday, reports from Galibal village said some huts in the area were buried under mounds of snow following heavy snowfall in the area.
Soon, a team of rescuers was sent to the area, but it couldn’t reach the place due to heavy snowfall.
The district authorities later decided to clear a parallel route—via Hajibal—which the rescue team used on Friday afternoon to reach the area.
“All the families are safe. We provided them with some essential commodities including medicine, but many of them declined to move to some other place saying they can’t leave their livestock behind,” said station house officer Panzla, Inam Ahmad.