Kargil: A snow avalanche, second in as many days, hit Zojila Pass along Srinagar-Leh Highway on Monday burying two trucks under it. All the persons were rescued by the police and security forces, however, two of them have sustained serious injuries.
“An avalanche struck Shaitani Nalla at Zojila at 9:00 am on Monday and buried two trucks which rolled down deep into a gorge,” a Kargil Police spokesperson said.
“Personnel from Kargil Police, Border Road Organisation and Indian Army quickly swung into action and rescued the injured drivers and passengers. Two critically injured drivers and one with minor injuries were referred to Drass for treatment,” the spokesman said.
“In the series of ongoing relief and rescue operations, teams of Forever in Operations Division along with Kargil Police rescued three persons from multiple Avalanche that hit NH1 near Gumri, Drass on Monday and provided immediate & timely medical aid,” Army’s fire and fury corps said.
This is the second consecutive day when avalanche hit Zojila Pass.
On Sunday, a snow avalanche occurred near Shaitani nallah which buried atleast five vehicles including trucks and one private vehicle under it.
“A massive rescue operation was immediately launched. All the six people have been safely rescued. There is no casualty in this incident,” an official had said.
Meanwhile, the traffic will remain suspended for two days on the Srinagar-Leh highway as the authorities plan to widen the road in view of the avalanches.
“In view of repetitive huge avalanches on Srinagar-Kargil road, immediate widening of road needs to be done. Because of widening work, Traffic on Srinagar-Kargil road will remain suspended on 18th & 19th of April, 2023. People are advised to plan their journey accordingly,” an official advisory said.
