Place In News
Avalanche at Zojila Pass
- 30 Mar 2026
- 4 min read
A devastating snow avalanche near the Zojila Pass resulted in several fatalities and injuries, sparking a debate over the safety of the crucial link between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
- An avalanche is a rapid, gravity-driven slide of snow, ice, and debris down a mountain slope. Triggered by structural instability, heavy snowfall, or temperature rises, they occur primarily on slopes of 30°–45°.
Zojila Pass
- About: Zojila Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass in the Union Territory of Ladakh. It is situated on National Highway 1 (NH-1) at an elevation of approximately 11,575 feet.
- Due to heavy snowfall and the constant threat of avalanches, the pass traditionally remains closed for nearly 6 months every year (from late autumn to spring). This cuts off Ladakh from the rest of the country by road, leaving air travel as the only option.
- However, it has remained open during the 2025-26 winter season, marking a historic milestone achieved through advanced snow-clearance equipment and superior operational planning.
- Geographical and Strategic Significance: Zojila Pass connects Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir to Leh in Ladakh, serving as a crucial route between the two regions.
- Located in the Great Himalayan Range, it forms a natural divide between the lush Kashmir Valley and the arid landscapes of Dras and Kargil.
- It is one of the two key land routes connecting Ladakh with the rest of India, along with the Srinagar-Leh road (434 km) and the Manali-Leh road (475 km via Sarchu).
- Historical Significance: Zojila Pass was a major theatre during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1948. Under Operation Bison (1948), the Indian Army deployed tanks (Stuart light tanks) at this altitude for the first time in history to recapture the pass from Pakistani raiders.
- Zojila Tunnel: To overcome the seasonal isolation of Ladakh, the Government of India is currently constructing the Zojila Tunnel. Once completed, it will be India’s longest road tunnel, and is expected to be Asia’s longest bi-directional tunnel, boasting a length of 14.15 km. It will reduce the travel time across the pass from 3.5 hours to just 15 minutes.
- The tunnel is crucial for the swift movement of troops and supplies to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LoC).
| Read More: Rising Avalanche Risks |
