A snow avalanche struck the Srinagar-Leh highway on the Ladakh side of Zojila Pass, trapping numerous vehicles. Fortunately, there were no casualties in the incident. Rescue efforts are underway to clear the debris and reopen the highway for traffic.
The Srinagar-Leh Highway, a crucial 434-km-long two-lane road connecting Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh, has been blocked due to the avalanche. The highway is renowned for its high altitude and stunning scenery as it traverses the 11,575-ft-high Zojila Pass.
Construction is ongoing for a tunnel beneath the Zojila Pass, which once completed, will ensure all-weather connectivity between Ladakh and the rest of India. This tunnel, measuring 9.5 meters in width, 7.57 meters in height, and 14.2 km in length, will pass under the Zojila Pass, linking Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir with Drass in Ladakh.
The Zojila Pass tunnel, in conjunction with the operational Z-Morh Tunnel, is a significant project on the Srinagar-Leh highway. It aims to provide year-round connectivity to Ladakh, enhance tourism, boost the economy, and improve logistics for the Indian Armed Forces.
The tunnel is part of a larger initiative involving the construction of 31 road tunnels in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, totaling Rs 1.4 lakh crore (approx. $17.5 billion). Upon completion, it will stand as the longest tunnel in Asia.
