10-10-2023 : Inclement weather in the high-altitude Zojila Pass region of Ganderbal district in Central Kashmir led to a temporary disruption in traffic flow along the Sonamarg-Zojila highway on Tuesday morning, resulting in commuters being stranded for approximately one hour.
According to reports from Kargil Police, the strategic roadway was closed in both directions for around an hour due to fresh snowfall and the subsequent slippery road conditions encountered at Zojila Pass. Officials clarified that the closure of the Sonamarg-Zojila road was necessitated by the recent snowfall in the higher elevations of Zojila in Ganderbal district, which lies in the heart of Central Kashmir. An official statement from Kargil Police stated, “Due to fresh snowfall & slippery road conditions at Zojilla Pass of NH-1D traffic has been stopped at Minamarg & Sonamarg till weather improves,” and shared this information on social media earlier in the day.
Following an assessment of the weather conditions and road safety, vehicular traffic was permitted to resume after approximately an hour of suspension. The police authorities communicated this update, stating, “Due to improvement in weather conditions across Zojila, traffic has now been released from Minamarg towards Srinagar,” assuring the restoration of traffic flow in the region. This incident underscores the challenges posed by unpredictable weather conditions in high-altitude areas, emphasizing the need for caution and preparedness among commuters traveling through such terrain.