Ladakh avalanche: Several dead at Zoji La Pass, rescue operations underway

At least 7 people have died and five others have been injured so far as multiple snow avalanches struck the Srinagar-Leh national highway on Friday, bringing traffic to a standstill, according to data from Union Minister Jitendra Singh.

The Zoji La Pass is said to be one of the most affected regions in the stretch between Zero Point and Minimarg, where several vehicles lie trapped under snow and debris.

Ladakh has launched a major rescue operation involving police, Army, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and district administrations.

"Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in an avalanche at Zojila Pass today. He extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured," read a statement from the office of J&K CM Omar Abdullah, in a post on X.

Visuals from the scene also show a number of people using shovels to try clearing a path on the blocked pass, as a long line of cars can be seen at a standstill along the pass.

"All government agencies including disaster relief forces and BRO have been put on high alert," the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Vinai Kumar Saxena, wrote in a post on X, adding that he was "personally monitoring the situation".

The exact cause of the multiple avalanches along the Srinagar-Leh highway is currently under investigation as well. Notably, the highway is a key route connecting Ladakh with Kashmir, and is frequently impacted by weather-related disruptions during winter months.