Tauseef Ahmad
BANDIPORA : Located in the high Himalayas, Gurez or Gurais valley, 86 kms from North Kashmir’s Bandipora district and 125 kms from Srinagar, is situated at 8000 feet above from sea level and one has to pass through 11000 feet through the Razdan top to reach this tourist destination.
Gurez Valley is replete with beautiful sights, such as the roaring Kishan Ganga River, fauna and flora, and mountains of poetic beauty (Habba Khatoon Peak) and vast meadows.
Awarded Gold, recently for being the best offbeat destination in valley, a significant number of families from Gurez valley of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district are migrating to main town Bandipora and its adjoining villages due to lack of basic facilities in Gurez.
The beautiful valley of Gurez, often least explored in Kashmir, has a population of 37000.
Speaking to the Kashmir Despatch Abdul Rehman a local resident of Neeru Tulail said that the residents of Gurez valley started migrating to Bandipora and its adjoining villages because of its harsh climatic conditions including heavy snowfall during winters.
“Since 2005 Gurez has no lady doctor (Gynecologist). We have to station our ladies patients especially expected mothers either at Dawar or in Bandipora town for emergency treatment,” he added.
“Despite several complaints and demands by locals, things haven’t changed over the years. There is an urgent need for gynecologists in the area. We contacted various high-ranking officials, including SDM, but they seem helpless,” locals added while talking to Kashmir Despatch.
Due to sub zero temperature in the valley Gurez remains cut off from rest of the Kashmir division for at least six months in winters. People have mastered the art of storing selected vegetables for their usage during winters. These storage methods do not involve electric power supply and are entirely based on the use of local natural resources.
The shelf life of stored vegetables is comparable with energy intensive modern methods of storage. The stored vegetables serve as an important source of nutritive food during the snow covered period in the region.
Despite the modern facilities like refrigerators, the traditional method of vegetable storage is still in vogue across Gurez valley. “The people of Gurez start migration in the month of October due to harsh winter and heavy snowfall. The valley remains cut off due to lack of road connectivity. Hope our dream of a tunnel comes true and the valley remains connected throughout year with the rest of the world.”
Though the Valley serves as a major attraction for the tourists worldwide, the locals here are aghast over lack of basic amenities. “There is no all weather road connectivity that could connect this part with the rest of the world throughout the year. Similarly, there is no requisite electricity, no safe drinking water, no school or health care infrastructure,” said a local, pleading anonymity.
The villagers here said that the government should at least develop this valley for the sake of tourists which could eventually benefit its local residents also.
