Kargil/Leh, Mar 28: At least seven persons lost their lives and several others sustained injuries after a series of avalanches struck a vulnerable stretch of the Srinagar-Leh National Highway (NH-1) on Friday afternoon, officials confirmed.
The avalanche struck between approximately 1:00 pm and 2:45 pm near Captain Turn on the Drass side of Zojila Pass, at an altitude of around 11,575 feet. The location falls within the avalanche-prone corridor between Zero Point and Minimarg. Officials said between 12 and 15 vehicles, mostly passenger vehicles plying the highway, were partially or completely buried under snow and debris.
Rescue teams later recovered seven bodies from the site, including that of a 10-month-old child. The deceased have been identified as Mohd Ali (72), a resident of Thangdumbur in Sankoo; Mohd Yousuf (38) from Tangole in Taisuru; Toiba Banoo (36) of Sangrah; Shahar Banoo (32) from Youljuk; and infant Assadullah from Youlguk. Identification of the remaining victims was underway, officials said.
Those injured include Farida Banoo (47), Abida Jan (29), Abdul Qadir (62), and Abrar (25), all residents of Old Road Leh; Mohd Baqir Balti (63) from Nilagarh in Srinagar; Sajida Banoo (32) of Skamboo; and Danish Majid from Patan. The injured were evacuated and rushed to medical facilities in Drass and Kargil, with one elderly man referred to Kargil hospital for advanced treatment.
A coordinated rescue operation involving more than 100 personnel was launched swiftly from both the Sonamarg side in Jammu and Kashmir and the Drass side in Ladakh. Teams from the police, Indian Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local civil administration worked through deep snow for several hours to extricate victims and clear debris. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Drass, Vishal Atri, confirmed details of the casualties, including the child and the critically injured elderly person.
The administration in Ladakh moved quickly to coordinate the response. Vinai Kumar Saxena said he had directed the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police of Kargil to immediately reach the site and oversee rescue operations. In a statement posted on X, he said all agencies, including disaster response forces and the Border Roads Organisation, had been placed on high alert, adding that he was personally monitoring the situation.
Expressing grief over the loss of lives, Member of Parliament from Ladakh, Mohmad Haneefa Jan termed the incident a stark reminder of the risks faced by commuters navigating the high-altitude corridor. In a statement issued on Friday, he conveyed condolences to the bereaved families, stating that the tragedy underscored the need for stronger safety measures.
Zojila Pass, often described as Ladakh’s lifeline, remains prone to avalanches and weather disruptions, particularly during winter and early spring. The latest incident has once again drawn attention to recurring vulnerabilities in managing traffic and ensuring commuter safety along the route.
Haneefa Jan called for immediate and coordinated action, urging authorities to intensify rescue and road clearance operations and ensure timely relief to affected families. He also highlighted the need for a structured and scientific approach to traffic regulation across the pass, suggesting a fixed movement schedule based on weather patterns and avalanche risk assessments.
He emphasised that preventive planning must take precedence over reactive measures, noting that repeated incidents point to systemic gaps rather than isolated failures. The MP also appealed to the public to adhere strictly to designated travel timings once implemented, cautioning against unnecessary risk-taking in hazardous conditions.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the fatalities and expressed grief over the loss of lives, stating that necessary medical and logistical assistance was being extended to the injured.
The Srinagar-Leh highway, particularly the Zojila stretch, witnesses frequent avalanche activity during late winter due to unstable snow accumulation and fluctuating temperatures. Officials said advisories had been issued, but the sudden nature of the avalanches left limited scope for preventive action.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also expressed grief, stating that all necessary assistance was being extended to the injured and bereaved families.
The Srinagar-Leh highway, a 434-kilometre arterial route linking the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh, remains fully blocked following the incident. The highway is particularly prone to avalanches and closures during late winter and early spring due to heavy snowfall and unstable slopes. Efforts to ensure all-weather connectivity are underway, including the construction of the 14.2-kilometre Zojila Tunnel, though the project is yet to be completed.
Drass, part of Kargil district and known for extreme winter conditions, frequently witnesses heavy snowfall and avalanche threats, especially along high mountain passes such as Zojila. Despite recent snow clearance operations by the Border Roads Organisation, unstable snow conditions continue to pose risks into late March.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the fragile nature of surface connectivity to Ladakh, which remains heavily dependent on the Srinagar-Leh highway for movement of people, supplies, and essential goods. Calls for improved early warning systems, avalanche protection infrastructure, and faster execution of strategic tunnel projects have gained renewed urgency.
Authorities have urged travellers to strictly adhere to weather advisories and movement restrictions in high-risk zones as rescue teams continue operations in difficult terrain. The tragedy has also prompted wider concern, with visuals and accounts from the site circulating on social media, underscoring the need for enhanced safety mechanisms along one of the region’s most challenging routes.
Recurring avalanches along the Zojila axis continue to expose the fragile nature of connectivity to Ladakh, especially during adverse weather. The incident has renewed focus on the need for safer, more dependable, and all-weather connectivity, alongside improved disaster preparedness for one of the most challenging mountain passes in the region.
