Utroosa Bandi Road in Handwara Snowbound, Locals Carry Patient on Stretcher for Several Kilometres to Hospital

Qalamabad (Handwara): Residents of Utroosa Bandi village in Monabal, Langate, were made to carry a female patient on a stretcher for several kilometres to a health centre on Saturday evening due to snowbound roads.

Noor Jaan, 43, wife of Alif Din Beharwal, developed health complications in the afternoon. With vehicles unable to navigate the snow-covered road, family members sought help from neighbours.

Wrapped in blankets, Noor Jaan was ferried on shoulders by local men through bone-chilling cold to reach the nearest medical facility.

Villagers said the road, though technically passable, remains obstructed by heavy snow, and authorities have not cleared the route. Several villages in the higher reaches of the Mawer belt continue to face similar difficulties following the fresh snowfall.

Locals urged the administration to expedite snow clearance and ensure safe and timely access to essential services in remote areas, particularly during emergencies.