A massive avalanche struck the Srinagar-Leh highway at Zoji La in Ladakh on Friday, killing six people including a 10-year-old child, and leaving an elderly man seriously injured, JK News Service reported, citing officials.
The avalanche hit near Captain Turn at Zojila Pass in Drass in the afternoon, burying multiple vehicles and blocking the strategic highway. At least 12-15 vehicles were reported to be partially or completely trapped under snow, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.
Local media, citing officials, said that at least six people were killed on Friday after a passenger vehicle was hit by a massive avalanche at Zojila Pass along the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway.
Earlier Sub-Divisional Magistrate Drass, Vishal Atri, confirmed to local about the death of a child. "A 10-year-old child has died in the incident and an elderly man has been shifted from Sub-District Hospital Drass to Kargil hospital for advanced treatment," Atri said.
He added that the identity of the deceased child is yet to be confirmed and cautioned that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue.
Authorities have mobilised multiple agencies, including police, the Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and district administrations from Sonamarg and Drass. "A large stretch of the highway has been affected and when we reached the site we saw some 12-15 vehicles under the snow. We couldn't go to the back side of the avalanche," Atri said.
Media reports said that rescue operations are being carried out simultaneously from both the Sonamarg side in Kashmir and the Drass side in Ladakh, with over 100 personnel and heavy snow-clearing machinery deployed.
"More than 100 people are involved in the rescue operation... We have police, SDRF, BRO, Army ambulances and support from Megha tunnel personnel," SDM Drass said.
Efforts from the Kashmir side were slowed due to traffic congestion caused by an up-convoy, officials added.
The operation, which began around 1 pm, has been underway for several hours, with teams continuing to search for any survivors trapped beneath the snow.
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