Zojila avalanche: 7 dead, 5 injured after vehicle hit on Srinagar-Leh Highway

At least seven persons were killed and five others injured when a passenger vehicle was caught in a devastating avalanche at Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway on Friday. The ill-fated vehicle was hit by heavy snow and debris.

A senior official told International Business Times that the vehicle came under a massive avalanche near Zojila Pass. The occupants of the vehicle were buried under snow, resulting in multiple fatalities on the spot, while several others sustained injuries. The injured were immediately rescued and shifted to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Rescue teams, including local authorities and emergency responders, rushed to the site soon after the incident and launched a large-scale operation to retrieve victims and clear the area.

The official added that the sudden and intense avalanche engulfed the vehicle, killing seven occupants on the spot, while five others were injured. The injured have been shifted to nearby medical centres, and rescue operations are ongoing. Ganderbal Police, along with disaster management authorities, are carrying out efforts to rescue those trapped.

The vehicle was reportedly on its way to Kargil from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.

Zojila Pass is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas that connects the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh. Located on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway at an altitude of about 3,528 metres, it is known for its steep, narrow roads and extreme weather conditions, including heavy snowfall and frequent avalanches, which often lead to temporary closures during winter.

The pass is strategically important as it serves as a key route for civilian transport and military supply lines to Ladakh.

Reacting to the incident, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said he has directed the Deputy Commissioner and Senior Superintendent of Police of Kargil to visit the site and oversee relief and rescue operations.

“All government agencies, including disaster response forces and the Border Roads Organisation, have been put on high alert. I am personally monitoring the situation,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh expressed grief over the incident in a post on X, stating, ‘Saddened to learn about the tragic death of seven persons and injuries to five after an avalanche hit a vehicle at Zojila Pass. My sincere condolences to the bereaved families. All required assistance is being provided to the injured.”

Officials said further details are awaited as rescue operations continue under challenging weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor, Manoj Sinha, spoke to the senior officials and took stock of the rescue and relief operations following the tragic avalanche at Zojila, Ganderbal.

The lieutenant governor has extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He has directed the officials to ensure the safety of the stranded persons and extend all possible assistance to those affected.

“Deeply pained by the loss of precious lives due to the tragic avalanche at Zojila. My heart goes out to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” the Lieutenant Governor said.