, Feb. 7 -- Gurez, Bandipora: Several villages in the remote Gurez Valley of north Kashmir have been plunged into prolonged darkness for weeks after the Bandipora-Gurez electricity transmission line was damaged due to heavy snowfall in January, triggering severe hardships for residents amid harsh winter conditions.

According to local sources, the entire Gurez Valley had slipped into darkness after the snowfall damaged the power infrastructure weeks ago. While electricity supply was restored in parts of main Gurez after two days, several outlying villages remain without power, leaving residents to fend for themselves in sub-zero temperatures.

Residents said the situation is particularly grim for students, who are among the worst affected...