The Srinagar-Leh highway has been shut down for traffic as an avalanche struck the Zojila Pass in Ladakh. Three trapped drivers were successfully rescued following the avalanche, with damaged vehicles being recovered and placed back on the road. The incident occurred near Shaitani Nallah in the Drass sector, affecting multiple vehicles including two tankers en route from Sonamarg to Kargil.
Clearance operations are currently in progress to restore traffic movement on the Srinagar-Leh highway, which is prone to snow-related hazards at this time. The Zojila Pass, known as the most dangerous section of the highway, witnessed six fatalities and five injuries in a previous avalanche on March 27. Efforts are underway to construct a tunnel across the Zojila Pass to ensure all-weather connectivity and bypass the hazardous stretch.
The ongoing construction of the Zojila Pass tunnel, situated between Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir and Drass in Ladakh, aims to provide year-round weather-resistant connectivity to Ladakh from the rest of the country. The tunnel, measuring 9.5 m wide, 7.57 m high, and 14.2 km long, is a crucial infrastructure project at an altitude of approximately 12,000 feet above sea level. Once completed, this tunnel, along with the Z-Morh Tunnel, will enhance the strategic connectivity of the NH1 Srinagar-Leh Highway.
