Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Jan 23 : The Jammu and Kashmir cops across Kashmir have emerged as the first line of rescue and aid for residents stranded by the heavy snowfall, with special efforts directed towards pregnant women and patients, officials said on Friday.
From clearing roads blocked by snow and fallen trees to physically carrying patients through snowdrifts, police teams have been working round-the-clock since a windstorm wreaked havoc on Thursday evening, followed by persistent snowfall.
“A senior police officer told Kashmir Convener that across Kashmir districts, police have been exceptionally proving their mettle and extra professionalism in their duty since Thursday evening. The immediate transition from managing storm damage to snow rescue operations has been seamless,” he said.
Detailing the round-the-clock efforts, the officer said, “It was just hours after heavy snowfall began. Our teams across districts remained actively on roads the whole day, helping people stranded on roads, transporters, and especially pregnant women to take them to hospitals amid heavy snowfall.”
In Shopian district, efforts were particularly intense. “Police teams worked relentlessly amid harsh weather to evacuate vehicles stuck in deep snow, facilitate safe passage for commuters, and clear hospital roads to maintain uninterrupted access to emergency services,” the officer explained. In one critical intervention, police arranged an oxygen cylinder from the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Shopian and delivered it to a patient at Bon Bazar. In another, they helped transport a patient stranded due to snowfall to the hospital for urgent treatment.
The human-centric response was starkly visible in Vilgam, Kupwara. “Personnel from Police Station Vilgam, assisted by local volunteers, carried a woman on a charpai (cot) through the deep snow and shifted her to a hospital for urgent medical care,” official said.
Similar scenes of dedication were reported from Handwara, Sopore, and Kulgam districts.
In Sopore, police remained active since morning. “Our teams helped stranded vehicles and cleared roads with the help of Municipal council and R&B department,” the officer said.
He said in Kulgam, teams navigated snow-bound and remote areas to assist patients, ensuring timely medical help despite major road disruptions.
The officer stated that police maintained “close coordination with traffic and allied departments to ensure a smooth response and uninterrupted emergency services.”
Acknowledging the ongoing severe weather, police reiterated their advisory. “We urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel, follow official advisories, and adhere to safety protocols. Our teams are on standby for round-the-clock support,” the officer said.
Earlier, anticipating the severe weather, all police districts across Kashmir had issued emergency contact numbers for the public, specifically requesting them to avoid non-essential travel.
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