Srinagar-Leh highway to reopen tomorrow

Srinagar: The 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway, connecting the Ladakh region with the rest of the state will be thrown open tomorrow after remaining closed for five-long-months due to snowfall between Sonamarg-Meenamarg. However, the road connecting the far flung and remote areas in Leh and Kargil districts in Ladakh region and border districts in Bandipora and Kupwara remained closed though the authorities have already started snow clearance operations.
The snow clearance operation, launched by the Border Roads Organisation, responsible for the maintenance the highway, was launched in March from both sides of Zojila pass, where more than 10 to 15 feet of snow had accumulated on the highway which was closed on December I. However, traffic on the
highway was suspended from November 26 following heavy snowfall at
Zojila pass.The road was reopened on April 27. However, it was delayed due to
heavy rains in Sonamarg plains and snowfall in higher reaches. Recently a large number of people protested at border town of Kargil and Drass, the world’s coldest place after Siberia, demanding early opening of the highway.They said a large number of people, including students were stranded at Srinagar and Kargil.
Many people crossed the Zojila pass on foot from Drass to reachSrinagar, they added.