Srinagar, India: The crucial Leh-Srinagar highway, connecting the strategic Ladakh sector with Srinagar, was closed for traffic on Friday due to heavy snowfall on the Zojila Pass stretch. This marks the first significant closure this winter after the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully kept the road open for an extended period thanks to minimal snowfall and advanced technology.
The Zojila Pass, situated at a staggering 11,800 feet, typically receives around 30-40 feet of snow from mid-December onwards, necessitating extensive snow clearance operations by the BRO every year. This year, however, the combination of negligible snowfall and innovative techniques employed by the BRO allowed the highway to remain operational for a longer duration.
"This is the longest period in recent years that the Leh-Srinagar highway has stayed open during winter," acknowledged a BRO official. While the exact dates vary slightly, BRO records indicate the road typically closes around December 31st (2020-21), January 4th (2021-22), and January 6th (2022-23).
With snowfall finally accumulating on the Zojila Pass, the highway closure is expected to continue until BRO teams complete snow clearance operations. The duration of the closure will depend on the severity of the snowfall and the pace of clearance efforts.
This development, while expected, underscores the crucial role played by the BRO in maintaining vital transportation links in challenging Himalayan terrain during harsh winter months.
