The Army's Border Road Organization (BRO) is engaged in keeping the Srinagar-Leh road open for most of the time to keep Ladakh connected to other states of the country for the first time in the snowfall. The BRO has started snow removal since the first week of November after a snowfall in the area. Especially the effort is to keep the Zojila pass open, which is considered to be the most inaccessible area on this highway. The young men are busy working day and night without caring for their lives in minus temperatures and icy storms. The BRO has named it Operation Snow Leopard.
Let me tell you that due to snowfall, Zojila Pass was closed for about 6 months in winter, but this is the first time that the administration has given the responsibility to the BRO to keep this route open. Due to the closure of this route, Ladakh was cut off from other parts of the country for about 6 months, due to which civilians, as well as the army, faced problems. They had to keep stock of essential goods beforehand.
Avalanche rescues 11 vehicles
According to the information, avalanche incidents have occurred in the area several times during this operation started from November 21. About 6 light motor vehicles (LMVs) and 5 heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) were rescheduled by BRO personnel during an avalanche and saved the lives of more than 15 people. The operation is being carried out under the supervision of Captain Vikram Jadhav, JE Amandeep Singh, JE Sham Rana, JE PK Shukla, JE Jatinder, many BRO personnel, regardless of their lives in minuscule temperatures and icy storms.
A senior BRO official said that this time a decision has been taken to keep the Zojila pass open. This task is quite challenging. Icy storms keep coming on the Zojila Pass in the coming days and there have been more than 30 avalanches. According to the official, two large Rescue operations were also conducted during this time in which a Xylo vehicle and a petrol tanker were trapped under the snow.
Army's team gives weather information
According to the official, machines like 5 dozers, 5 snow cutters, 7 excavators, 3 snow plows are being used. The army-in-law team is also deployed with them on Zojila, which gives information about the change of weather from moment to moment. Based on this, a plan is made to execute every task. The SASE team also provides information about avalanches in the area, which allows clearance work and movement of vehicles. Army, police, and civil administration teams are fully prepared for any accident. Complete management of ambulance and medical facility has been maintained. Even Avalanche Rescue teams have been formed which can carry out Rescue work in such an emergency.
Do not travel on this route without police permission: Polay
On the other hand, Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir PK Polay said that of course, the movement of trains on this route is not appropriate in winter, but as long as you can keep it open then it has to be kept. Complete precaution is being taken regarding accidents. Polle said that this road project from the Kashmir Division side is near the project beacon and from the Ladakh side the project Heimank. The area is inaccessible from the Zojila side. It will be our endeavor that even if the road is clear, people should go to chains with trains.
He appealed to the people not to travel on this route until the Ganderbal police and the Kargil police permit it. He said that both the blocks should cross at 10 am so that they can cross the zojila during day time. You can get stuck if there is snow in the middle