LG Sinha, CM Omar express grief as rescue ops continue
Srinagar- Leh highway closed
Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar: At least five persons were killed and seven others injured after a snow avalanche struck near Dayal Pass along the Zojila-Kargil highway on Friday. Rescue and search operations are continuing at the site.
The deceased have been identified as Mohd Ali of Thangdumbur Sankoo, Mohd Yousuf of Tangole Taisuru, Toiba Banoo of Sangrah, Shahar Banoo of Youlguk, and a 10-month-old child, Assadullah of Youlguk.
The injured include Farida Banoo, Abida Jan, Abdul Qadir and Abrar from Old Road Leh; Mohd Baqir Balti from Nilagarh Srinagar; Sajida Banoo from Skamboo; and Danish Majid from Pattan — have been shifted to District Hospital Kargil for treatment.
A senior police official said three to four passenger vehicles were caught in the avalanche and buried under snow and debris, leading to the closure of the strategic Srinagar-Leh National Highway. Rescue teams were rushed to the spot and a joint operation was launched to evacuate the trapped passengers, he said.
He said the avalanche, likely triggered by intense sunlight, struck the Srinagar-Leh National Highway near Zero Point at Zojila Pass on Friday afternoon, when a convoy of passenger vehicles was moving along the snow-covered stretch.
Eyewitnesses reported that a massive sheet of snow suddenly slid down the slopes, engulfing several vehicles at an altitude of around 3,580 metres.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal Khalil Poswal, along with officials from Kargil and the district administration, reached the site to supervise the rescue efforts.
“Twelve persons came under the avalanche, of which five have died, while seven others sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment,” he said.
Rescue operations are being carried out by the Indian Army, SDRF, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Disaster Response Force Ladakh, Ladakh Police, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and local volunteers. Teams are also engaged in clearing the highway and retrieving vehicles buried under snow.
J&K’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha spoke to senior officials and reviewed the ongoing rescue and relief operations. He directed authorities to ensure the safety of stranded persons and extend all possible assistance.
“Deeply pained by the loss of precious lives due to the tragic avalanche at Zojila. My heart goes out to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena said all agencies have been put on high alert. “I have directed officials to ensure immediate rescue and relief measures. The situation is being closely monitored,” he said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also expressed grief, extending condolences to the families of the victims and assuring all necessary assistance to the injured.
The Zojila incident comes amid a series of snow avalanches reported across Kashmir this winter, with experts linking the trend to changing climatic patterns in the Himalayan region.
In recent years, multiple avalanche incidents have been reported, including in J&K and Ladakh. In 2023, two foreign skiers died, and several others were rescued in Gulmarg. Avalanches were also reported in Bandipora, Sonamarg, and Kargil, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure.
