Bandipora, Dec 20: The administration on Saturday closed vehicular movement on the Bandipora-Gurez Road following an inclement weather advisory. In an order shared with Greater Kashmir, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gurez directed the Police Stations at Izmarg and Pethkoot not to allow any vehicles to cross from Bandipora towards Gurez and vice versa after 4 pm on Saturday.
The administration sought cooperation from the public and advised people not to plan travel unless fresh orders are issued by the SDM’s office.
Meanwhile, Traffic Control Points (TCPs) at Kanzalwan and Bandipora were also directed to maintain vigil.
SDM Gurez, Mukhtar Ahmad, told Greater Kashmir that the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which looks after snow clearance on the Bandipora-Gurez Road, is fully prepared and will soon press into action after snowfall.
He said the divisional administration’s Mechanical Department was also ready with 10 snow cutters to clear inner link roads as and when snowfall occurs.
The SDM said the fuel required for operating the machines had already been dumped in Gurez.
Regarding a possible power shutdown, he said that if the transmission line supplying electricity to Gurez from Bandipora develops a fault, diesel-generated power would be provided to consumers, for which sufficient fuel had been kept available.
He said that the administration can also utilise power supply from the Kishanganga Dam Sites 2.4 MW power plant, in case the fault in the main transmission line persists for a longer duration.
“At present, we are receiving around 1 MW from the plant for domestic consumption,” he said.
The SDM said that LPG cylinders, medicines, and ration had been stocked until May. He said that two review meetings had already been held to assess the availability of essential supplies in the Gurez Valley.