Basit Shah
Ganderbal Dec 31 (KNZ) : The 434-km-long strategic Srinagar-Leh highway, connecting the Ladakh region with the Kashmir valley, has been officially closed for winter months to avoid any accidents following fresh snowfall and slippery road conditions due to freezing temperatures.
Official sources said that the highway has been closed for winter months after the areas along the highway including Sonamarg, Drass and Zojila Pass experienced heavy snowfall.
The highway, which usually remains closed from 1st week of December for about four to five months every year, had remained open for a longer period this time around because of the dry weather, officials said.
As per an official communiqué from Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole, the highway has been officially closed from 1st January till further orders.
“We have closed the highway from today as per orders by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir,” traffic police sources said.
Meanwhile, Beacon on the intervening night of 31 December rescued 300 Passengers and 106 Vehicles who were stuck at Zojila Pass due to the slippery road conditions.
On getting the information 122 RCC of Beacon party headed by Captain Vikram Jadhav launched a rescue operation to pull out the stuck up vehicles and passengers from the Zojila Pass.KNZ
