BANDIPORA, Jan 24: A powerful snowstorm accompanied by gusty winds swept through parts of Bandipora district, particularly the Gurez and Tulail areas, causing partial damage to nearly 100 structures, Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, said on Saturday.According to official information, the affected structures are spread across several areas of the district, including Sumbal and villages in Tulail sub-division, notably Abdullan village. The snowstorm struck the region on Friday evening and continued into the early hours of Saturday, disrupting normal life in the upper reaches.Local reports from Tulail, especially Abdullan village, indicated that strong winds and heavy snowfall damaged rooftops and other parts of residential and ancillary structures. However, officials and residents confirmed that there has been no loss of life or reports of major structural collapse so far.Speaking to the media, Deputy Commissioner Indu Kanwal Chib said that the extent of damage is still being assessed and the number of affected structures may rise as revenue teams continue ground surveys and register cases. “At present, around 100 structures have been reported as partially damaged. Assessment teams are on the ground, and the final figures will be known after detailed verification. No major damage has been reported so far,” she said.The Deputy Commissioner also informed that the power supply was disrupted in parts of Sumbal after electricity lines from the Pattan side were damaged due to adverse weather conditions. She said restoration work has already been taken up and efforts are underway to normalize the supply at the earliest.On road connectivity, she said that snow clearance operations are in full swing. “The Mechanical Engineering Department (MED) is actively engaged in snow clearance. Bottlenecks at certain locations were promptly cleared after being reported. While most of the inner roads across the district have been cleared and all three towns are functional, the Bandipora–Gurez road remains closed due to heavy snow accumulation,” she said.The Deputy Commissioner added that the Bandipora–Gurez road is expected to be restored by evening, subject to improvement in weather conditions.Given the prevailing situation, Chib issued an avalanche alert for the higher reaches of the district, particularly the Gurez and Tulail areas. She urged residents to remain cautious and strictly follow advisories issued by the administration. People were also advised to avoid travelling towards Gurez until the main road is officially reopened.Reassuring the public, the Deputy Commissioner said that essential supplies, including LPG and fuel, are adequately stocked in the area and no shortage has been reported so far.The district administration, she said, is closely monitoring the situation and has directed concerned departments to remain on alert to respond promptly to any emergency arising due to snowfall or weather-related incidents.
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