Srinagar, March 26: Authorities have intensified snow clearance operations on the 434-kilometre-long Srinagar-Ladakh highway as efforts continue to restore connectivity. However, the closure of the strategic Zojila Pass has left residents of Drass and Kargil face shortages of fresh produce during the holy month of Ramadan.
The highway has been shut since February 25 due to heavy snowfall, but with improving weather conditions, Project Vijayak and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) have deployed men and machinery to speed up clearance efforts. Officials from Project Beacon report that the stretch from Zojila to Zero Point remains buried under six to seven feet of snow, making the operation very challenging.
In response to the supply crisis, the Ladakh UT Administration, LAHDC Kargil and the district administration have airlifted 15 tonnes of fresh vegetables and fruits to Kargil via the Cooperative Department. The first consignment has been distributed through cooperative retail outlets at Fatima Chowk, with combo packs containing 6-7 varieties of vegetables and fruits priced at Rs 300 and Rs 200 per pack to ensure fair distribution.
Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Kargil, Dr Zakir Hussain, acknowledged the growing pressure on food supplies due to the prolonged road closure but assured that a second consignment would arrive soon. He also noted that the initiative aligns with the ‘International Year of Cooperatives 2025’, highlighting the role of cooperatives in addressing logistical challenges in remote areas.
Local residents have welcomed the move, praising the administration’s swift response in ensuring essential supplies reach the region during Ramadan. Meanwhile, authorities remain focused on clearing the remaining snow to fully reopen the crucial highway at the earliest.
