SRINAGAR: Heavy rain and snow in the quake-hit areas of Kashmir have dealt a severe blow to the relief operations as fresh landslips have blocked access to several affected villages and the tents provided to the victims have failed to withstand the rain and strong winds.

With thousands of residents in the Uri and Tangdhar sectors of north Kashmir shivering in cold, the state administration, already under flak for doing little, is grappling with the new challenge thrown up by the inclement weather.

Reports reaching here said that the Air Force helicopters could not continue with their operations and a number of roads leading to the badly hit villages were also damaged with the steady rain. The only link between Kupwara and Tangdhar was snapped on Sunday due to blockades at Sadna Top. But the officials said that it was restored on a war footing. However, it has become difficult for the relief workers from the administration, Army and the NGOs to move ahead.

Fresh snowfall in Tangdhar and the upper reaches in Uri has further worsened the situation. "We were forced to suspend relief work as the heavy rain made it difficult to go ahead," said a functionary of a voluntary organisation, which has been busy in relief work in the Uri area for a week. Chief Secretary Vijay Bakaya told The Hindu that relief work resumed in certain areas and helicopters also started their sorties but in Tangdhar the weather continues to be bad.

Even as the authorities claim that no village in both the sectors was inaccessible for the relief operations, reports suggest that in Karnah, 21 villages out of 42 have not been accessed by the administration.

Similarly in Uri only 25 per cent of the affected population has been provided tents. In Uri, for villages like Kamalkot, Jabra, Shahdara, Dalunja, Chapra, Kandi, Sultan Daki and Dhani, the relief is still a dream. "We are completely shelter less now. Even if some tents have been given, one tent can only accommodate two people," said Mohammad Nazir from Jabla, who came to see a relative in a Srinagar hospital. Even as the State government said on Monday that 16,000 tents against a requirement of 30,000 had been dispatched to the affected areas but the rain and strong winds have made them useless.

In their joint effort, the State government and the Army had set up tented colonies in these areas but most of these tents have been dislodged by the rain and the winds.

Mr. Bakaya admitted that these tents were not rain proof but said "we have requisitioned bigger tents preferably rain proof and wind proof from the Red Cross."

People have questioned the government decision to provide the tents, which are not rain proof and are not of good quality. "Tents will not work here. We live in hilly areas and not in Srinagar," said a resident .

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