Sgr – Leh highway reopens for stranded vehicles after 10-day closure

Ganderbal, May 05 :After a 10-day closure caused by heavy snowfall and avalanches at Zojila Pass, the vital Srinagar-Leh highway has reopened for stranded passenger vehicles, bringing relief to travelers and residents of Ladakh who were isolated from the rest of the valley. The closure, prompted by adverse weather conditions and multiple avalanches in high-altitude areas, including Zojila Pass’s Daniyan and PaniMatha, necessitated a massive clearing operation by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for maintaining the highway.
According to the official sources, the initial reopening is limited to passenger vehicles, specifically those that were stranded during the closure. Heavy vehicles and other traffic will be allowed to ply on the route after further assessments and clearances by civil and police authorities.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), responsible for maintaining the highway, undertook a massive operation to clear snow and debris simultaneously from Drass (in Kargil) and Sonamarg (in the valley) to facilitate the reopening.
The Srinagar-Leh highway serves as a crucial lifeline for the Ladakh region, providing the only surface link to the rest of the UT J&K. Its closure often isolates areas like Kargil, which experience heavy snowfall and are heavily reliant on this route for connectivity with the Kashmir Valley.