After being closed for five long months, Ladakh’s lifeline, the 434-km Srinagar-Leh National Highway has now reopened for vehicular traffic. The highway is the only road that connects the entire Kashmir Valley with the frontier region of Ladakh.
Lt. Gen. Subrata Saha, who is the General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps in Zojila reopened the highway. On January 12, 2015, the highway was closed due to heavy snowfall in the region. However, in the last season it remained open for a longer period of time due to less snowfall in the season.
Ladakh and adjoining areas usually experience early winters by virtue of their elevation. Snowfall in the region begins by October and at times as early as September. Right from the month of October till March, the weather systems keep affecting these areas and the highway remains closed.
However, during the summer season weather systems are infrequent and less intense, which is why the highway remains open. Also, Monsoon is round the corner but the Ladakh region does not receive much rain during the season.
The snow clearance operations, began on March 21 and were completed by the first week of May. About 18 to 50 feet of snow had accumulated. Trials were carried out for vehicles after the clearance to ensure that the road was fit for travel.
The Leh-Srinagar highway is an important route for tourism due to its connectivity to the most scenic terrain in India. The highway remains closed mostly from December till May. Last year also, the highway had reopened on the same day as this year.
Image Credit (telegraph.co.uk)
