Srinagar, Apr 26: The Srinagar-Leh highway, a vital lifeline connecting Jammu and Kashmir with Ladakh, has been closed for vehicular movement following an avalanche at the Zojila Pass on Sunday. Officials confirmed that three drivers trapped in the snow were rescued safely, while damaged vehicles have been retrieved and placed back on the road.

The avalanche struck near Shaitani Nallah in the Drass sector, hitting multiple vehicles, including two tankers traveling from Sonamarg towards Kargil. Teams from the Union Territory Disaster Response Force (UTDRF) Kargil, Police Station Drass, and local volunteers carried out swift rescue operations, evacuating the drivers and recovering the affected vehicles from the snow.

Authorities stated that clearance operations are currently underway to restore traffic movement along the highway. However, the route remains vulnerable to snow hazards during this season, making travel risky. The Srinagar-Leh highway is known for its treacherous stretches, particularly at Zojila Pass, where avalanches and accidents have claimed numerous lives over the past seven decades.

Authorities stated that clearance operations are currently underway to restore traffic movement along the highway. However, the route remains vulnerable to snow hazards during this season, making travel risky. The Srinagar-Leh highway is known for its treacherous stretches, particularly at Zojila Pass, where avalanches and accidents have claimed numerous lives over the past seven decades.

Also Read: Fresh Landslide Blocks Srinagar–Jammu Highway for 2nd Day

To address these concerns, construction of the Zojila Tunnel is currently underway. The tunnel, designed as a horseshoe-shaped single-tube, two-lane road tunnel, will span 14.2 kilometers at an altitude of nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. Measuring 9.5 meters wide and 7.57 meters high, the tunnel is expected to bypass the dangerous Zojila Pass and provide year-round connectivity between Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Drass in Ladakh’s Kargil district.

Together with the adjacent Z-Morh Tunnel, the Zojila Tunnel is considered geostrategically vital, ensuring weather-proof access to Ladakh from the rest of India. Once completed, it will significantly reduce travel risks, enhance trade and tourism, and strengthen national security by maintaining uninterrupted connectivity to the border region.

For now, authorities continue to monitor the situation at Zojila Pass, urging travelers to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary movement until the highway is cleared and declared safe.