Padri Jot road set to reopen after snow clearance ops
The Padri Jot road, a vital link connecting Chamba with the Bhaderwah region in Doda district, Jammu and Kashmir, is set to reopen soon as the Public Works Department (PWD) nears completion of its snow clearance operation.
According to Kumud Upadhyay, Executive Engineer (XEN), PWD Salooni Division, the removal of snow and debris is in its final phase, with only about 1.5 km of snow left to be cleared on the Himachal Pradesh side. Simultaneously, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir are actively working with JCB machines to clear the route from their end. Upadhyay stated that the road from Himachal’s side is expected to be open for vehicular traffic within the next two to three days.
The reopening of this key road will bring much-needed relief to residents who have family members on both sides of the border, as well as to the people of tribal Pangi subdivision. For those traveling to Pangi, Padri Jot serves as an essential alternative route to the district headquarters until the shorter Sach Pass is accessible later in the season.
During winter, heavy snowfall rendered the Padri Jot impassable, with snow piling up several feet high. Nestled in the Pir Panjal range, Padri Jot sits at an altitude of over 10,000 feet and is a stunning mountain pass that marks the border between Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir.
