Ganderbal, Mar 13: The Srinagar–Leh highway remained closed for the fourth consecutive day on Friday following heavy snowfall in the higher reaches around Zoji La Pass, officials said.
The closure has left hundreds of vehicles stranded near Sonamarg and Drass as authorities suspended traffic movement due to unsafe road conditions.
Officials said snow clearance operations were resumed after improvement in weather conditions. Teams of the Border Roads Organisation under Project Vijayak have pressed snow cutters and heavy machinery into service to restore the road.
Sources said nearly one-and-a-half feet of fresh snowfall was recorded in the Gumri sector, creating slippery and hazardous conditions along the highway.
They said snow removal work has already progressed from the Panimatha stretch up to Zojila Pass, while clearance operations are continuing in other areas where snow accumulation remains heavy.
The Srinagar–Leh highway is considered a vital lifeline for the Ladakh region as it facilitates transportation of essential supplies, fuel and other goods between Kashmir and Ladakh.
Officials said the highway was kept closed as a precautionary measure after fresh snowfall triggered by continuous rainfall in the Kashmir plains over the past few days.
Meanwhile, several trucks and passenger vehicles remain stranded along the route, awaiting restoration of traffic movement.
Authorities said the highway will be reopened only after snow clearance operations are completed and the road is declared safe for vehicular traffic.
