Srinagar, March 30: A trial run of vehicles was conducted on the strategic Srinagar-Ladakh highway after Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Project Vijay cleared the snow from the both sides of the Zojila Pass.
Following this development, nearly 200 Tata Mobile vehicles laden with fresh vegetables were sent from Sonmarg to Kargil on Sunday to assess the road’s condition before fully reopening it for regular traffic. Officials noted that while the trial run was largely successful, the route remains highly precari-ous due to the lingering threat of avalanches and landslides at multiple locations along Zojila Pass. Travellers and freight operators have been strongly advised to refrain from heading towards Sonmarg until an official traffic advisory is issued. The authorities emphasised that even though the road has been cleared, unpredictable weather conditions and unstable terrain continue to pose sig-nificant risks.
Chief Executive Councillor of Kargil, Dr Jafar Akhoon, urged passengers to avoid travelling to Mina-marg and Sonmarg unless clearance is granted by the Traffic Police, Ganderbal Police, Kargil Police, civil administration and BRO. He stated that, in anticipation of Eid-ul-Fitr, the administration priori-tised the transportation of fresh vegetables, poultry, and fruit from Sonmarg to Kargil in 200 small vehicles. This proactive measure aims to prevent shortages of essential commodities in the Ladakh region ahead of the festive period. Despite the progress in clearing the road, frustration among stranded passengers from Kargil and Ladakh has been mounting, leading to protests in Sonmarg. Many demonstrators, including students, expressed deep concerns over the prolonged road closure, which has disrupted their academic schedules. They urged the authorities to expedite efforts to en-sure the full restoration of traffic at the earliest, highlighting the difficulties faced by those needing to return home or resume their studies.
The administration is closely monitoring the situation and will issue further updates regarding the highway’s reopening once it is deemed safe for travel. Meanwhile, frustrations have been mounting among stranded passengers from Kargil and Ladakh, leading to protests in Sonmarg. Among the demonstrators were students, who voiced their concerns over how the prolonged road closure is severely affecting their education. Many students, studying in various institutions across Jammu and Kashmir, have been unable to return to their campuses due to the prolonged shutdown of the high-way. They urged the administration to expedite efforts in restoring traffic to normalcy, emphasising that their studies and future prospects were at stake.
