Surface transportation comes to a halt in Ladakh, courtesy fresh snow

Our Correspondent

Leh, January 13

Different parts of Ladakh received fresh spell of moderate to heavy snowfall on Monday, resulting in halting surface transportation between the Union Territory Headquarter, Leh, inter-district connectivity between Leh district and Kargil district and other sub-divisional headquarters and villages.

Bus services plying from Leh to Kargil have been sent back half way from Khalsi to Leh due to heavy snowfall in Kargil district and private vehicles opted to stay away from plying on the highways.

An official at the Police Control Room (PCR), Leh, which monitors traffic at the two mighty passes — Khardung La and Chang La — said both passes were closed for traffic following snowfall, which started on Monday afternoon.

Khardung La is the gateway to Nubra subdivisional headquarters and Saichen Glacier, while Chang La connects Durbuk subdivision and Indo-China border areas.

Due to heavy snowfall in Khaltsi subdivision and Photola pass, the Leh to Kargil national highway, Leh to Dah roads and Khaltsi inter subdivisional roads have been blocked since Monday morning.

Leh Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya on receiving intimations from GREF, Border Roads Organisation, about heavy snowfall in Khalsi subdivision, has alerted the public that all these roads would be closed for traffic on Tuesday as well.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department, Srinagar, that issued red alert (heavy to very heavy snowfall) has predicted that there would be a significant decrease in precipitation from Monday night and overall improvement will start from January 14.

In IMD weekly forecast, however, it will resume with another spell of snowfall.