Srinagar, Jan 09: Residents of several areas of Batamaloo on Saturday expressed strong resentment over tall claims of authorities about snow clearance, saying the lanes and bylanes of the area are still covered up under one-feet snow causing immense inconvenience to locals.

Talking to Rising Kashmir, residents of Kashi Mohalla, Ziyarat Batamaloo, Drywani road, Rekh Chowk, Karra lane, Saida Mohalla and adjoining areas said that people of these areas are unable to walk out as roads are still covered under snow. They said even though a week is about to pass since it snowed but authorities have miserably failed to clear the roads in these areas.

"We are living 0.5 km away from city centre Lal Chowk but are confined under four walls for a week now. Whenever we tried to contact officials over phone they tried to pacify us while giving hollow assurances", a local told Rising Kashmir over phone.

"Apart from monetary exigencies, people are unable to walk upto Mosques for prayers", he added.

Another local residing near Ziyarat Batamaloo said the accumulated snow from several days has made the streets slippery to walk, causing injuries to people. He said people living in the surroundings of Ziyarat voluntarily cleared few lanes to make roads walkable but it didn't yield sufficient results.

Locals of the area appealed authorities to send their teams in the areas and clear accumulated snow at an earliest.

Meanwhile, Commissioner SMC Gazanfer Ali while talking to Rising Kashmir contested the claims and said the areas have been cleared on the very first and subsequent days continuously. "Our ward officers are on ground to provide relief to people," he added. 

The officer however maintained that it might be that snow which falls from rooftops and accumulates inside the bylanes. "We are on job and this part of snow will also be cleared", Gazanfer assured.