KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
The strategic 160 Kms long Bandipora-Gurez-Kabul Gali road was thrown open to vehicular traffic on Monday.
The 160 Kms stretch from Bandipora to Kabol Gali receive very heavy snow, precipitation and experience adverse climatic condition. The entire road is riddled with mighty avalanches of average height of snow accumulation of approximately 30 to 40 feet astride the pass, Srinagar based defence spokesperson said this evening.
“This year the Project Beacon had taken the challenge to keep the pass open for maximum duration. Accordingly, the pass was kept open as late as February 2016, whereas the pass gets closed in Dec every year. Only 4 x 4 vehicles could play on the road in the month of Feb due to heavy icing and deposition of snow due to gushing wind at the pass itself,” the spokesperson added.
The spokesperson further said, “since the entire road is covered with thick snow, the most difficult task is to identify the road alignment. The recce party with the help of local labourers performs the job, with various navigation aids. Snow clearance operation was hampered due to adverse weather condition. However, despite all odds, project Beacon has opened the road well before the anticipated time.”
