Road to Indo –China border in Darma valley still closed due to snow

Road to Indo –China border in Darma valley still closed due to snow

B.D.Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, March 4

Motor road to security posts on the Indo-China border in Darma valley in Dharchula sub-division of Pithoragarh has remained closed from last 4 days and likely to be closed for next 3 days as over 10 meters high avalanche has covered the road at Sobla.

“Due to heavy snowfall last week, a 40 meters long and 10 meters high glacier has slid on the road near Chalkbum point of 70 long Darma valley road and the workers of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started removing it,” said Manjit Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Dharchula.

According to SDM besides this, 3 more points on the road at Galchin, Yusung and Boring points are also heavily covered by galcial snow that slides from above situated glaciers of Darma valley.”The BRO teams have started removing the snow and if the weather remain calm, the snow deposits could be removed in the next 3 days opening the road,” said the SDM.

The SDM, who also visited cut off Darma villages, has said that the villagers and security personnel are facing inconvenience as their transportation to valley villages and security check posts has been affected.

According to Dharchula SDM, over four dozen sheep died in Chaudans valley due to unbeatable cold that followed the snowfall on February 27 and 28 this year.”The sheep heard belonged to Ashok Varti, Prem Singh Dhami, Dan Singh Budiyal, Janak Budiyal and Janak Singh Bhandari of Chaudans valley,” said Vimla Rawat, Patwari of Sosa.

Pithoragarh District Magistrate Vinod Goswami, meanwhile, took a meeting of seniors officers  of BRO, PWD and PMGSY, to open the closed roads of the district on priority basis.” We have also asked ITBP doctors to treat over 50 labourers of BRO, who have fallen ill due to cold conditions following unexpected snowfall in the valley,” said DM.