Seven Killed In Massive Avalanche At J&K-Ladakh Highway As Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Conflicting Reports
A series of avalanches struck the Zojila Pass on Friday, resulting in at least seven confirmed deaths and five injuries while multiple vehicles remained buried under snow as rescue operations continued into Saturday morning. While initial reports from earlier this afternoon cited six fatalities with several additional people injured or stranded along Srinagar-Leh National Highway, later updates have solidified the death toll to include a total of eight individuals killed in separate incidents near Zoji La and other sections of Ladakh's high-altitude route.
Key Points
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1At least seven people were confirmed dead following multiple avalanche strikes along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway on Friday.
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2The disaster occurred near Zoji La between Zero Point and Minimarg, burying several vehicles under heavy snow and debris while trapping others in rescue operations. At least five other individuals sustained injuries during this high-altitude incident that has blocked a critical stretch of road connecting Jammu & Kashmir to Ladakh.
Developments
Perspectives
A tragic avalanche at Zoji La pass claimed seven lives, burying multiple vehicles under heavy snow.
— [Mar 27, 17:05] Seven Killed In Zojila Pass Avalanche in Ladakh; Multiple Vehicles Buried (Oneindia)At least six to seven people were killed and five others injured when a devastating avalanche struck the high-altitude pass.
— [Mar 27, 16:05] Snow slide buries vehicles as rescue teams battle harsh weather in Zojila Pass (Deccanchronicle)Seven individuals lost their lives while multiple avalanches hit Srinagar-Leh national highway between Zero Point and Minimarg.
— [Mar 27, 16:05] Seven killed as avalanche hits the high-altitude Zojila pass (Timesofindia.indiatimes.com)Seven people were feared dead after an apparently triggered by a landslide struck vehicles on Friday at Zero Point and Minimarg.
— [Mar 27, 16:05] Seven killed as avalanche hits Srinagar-Leh National Highway (Thehindu)An avalanche at Zojila Pass on Friday killed seven people buried under snow near Zero Point while five others were injured or remain missing in vehicles traveling from Srinagar to Kargil. Rescue teams are working against difficult weather conditions with the assistance of multiple government agencies, including police and disaster management units directed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.
A massive avalanche struck Zoji Pass near Zero Point, burying vehicles at an elevation of 3,528 meters and killing between six and seven people while injuring five others; one person remains missing amidst ongoing search efforts hindered by harsh weather. Rescue teams from multiple agencies are working to recover the dead bodies and evacuate survivors despite heavy snowfall that has temporarily blocked a key highway segment connecting Srinagar and Kargil.
On Friday, multiple avalanches struck a section between Zero Point and Minimarg of Srinagara-Leh national highway in Ladakh's Kargil district, trapping vehicles under snow debris while killing seven people and injuring five others. Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the death toll as officials mobilized rescue teams from disaster relief forces to clear obstacles and assist victims at Zojila pass.
An avalanche triggered by bright sunlight struck a passenger train on Zojila Pass near Zero Point in Kashmir's Ladakh region around noon on Friday (March 27), burying vehicles at an altitude of over three and half thousand meters. At least seven people were feared dead with five others injured, prompting the closure of Srinagar-Leh National Highway while officials mobilized rescue forces for relief operations.
At least six people died and five were injured when avalanches buried nearly a dozen vehicles near Zoji La on Friday's Srinagar-Leh National Highway, with rescue teams including the Border Roads Organisation currently working at Zero Point to Minmarg under VK Saxena's oversight.