| Highway connecting Ladakh with Kashmir, Kargil-Zanaskar road still closed | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 2: The national highway, also the only road connecting Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh with Kashmir valley and Kargil-Zanaskar road remained closed for the sixth day on Monday following accumulation of several feet of snow and slippery road conditions due to below freezing temperature.
Large number of passengers from Zanaskar and other areas remained stranded at Kargil due to closure of the roads.
Traffic remained suspended on Srinagar-Leh highway on Monday as a precautionary measure because of accumulation of several feet of snow which has frozen due to below freezing temperature.
A traffic police official said this morning that massive snow clearance operation continued on the highway between Sonamarg, Zojila, Captain Mode, Meenmarg and Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia. However, due to minus 15 to 20 temperature, particularly during the night, the road has become slippery, making snow clearance operation a little difficult.
The road from Srinagar to Sonmarg in central Kashmir on this side of the Zojila pass was open and stranded truckers and others were brought to Srinagar.
Officials said that there is less chance of reopening of the highway as more than five to six feet of snow has accumulated at several places and there is also threat of avalanches.
The highway, the only road connecting UT Ladakh with Kashmir, remained closed for six months during winter due to below freezing temperature and accumulation of snow since November 1 every year in the past. However, for the past few years due to efforts of the local administration and different agencies of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), highway now remains open in the month of December till there is heavy snowfall.
Earlier, before the division of the state into two UTs the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, was taking decision to close the highway for winter months. However, since Ladakh has now become an independent UT, decision to close or reopen the highway will have to be taken by administration of UT Ladakh and Kashmir. |
|
