Ganderbal : The snow clearance operation on 434 KM long Srinagar-Leh highway was started by Border Roads Organisation (BRO). The road was closed on January 6 this year following heavy snowfall.
A Beacon official said that the snow clearance work on the strategic highway was started from the Baltal side and is going in full swing.
The sophisticated snow cutters have been pressed into service to clear the snow accumulated on the highway.
However, he said that every year due to the huge avalanches at several places of Zojila Pass including Captain Morh, Shaitani Nallah, Mandir Morh, Bajri Nallah the highway is buried under 40 to 50 feet of snow and is posing severe challenges to BRO 122RCC.
He said that the road runs on mountains with a deep gorge on one side. The men and machinery have to take extra precautions to avoid the loss of life and property while working on the road.
The road connecting Ladakh with the rest of India is not just a stretch of asphalt and concrete, but a lifeline for the people living in this remote region. For centuries, Ladakh has relied on this road to transport essential goods and supplies, and to connect with the outside world.
According to a BRO official, due to the heavy snow, the Srinagar-Ladakh Highway may take longer to reopen than it did last year.
