It was horrific to see how 7 precious human lives were consumed by a massive avalanche at the Zojila Pass on March 28. Viral videos show how several vehicles were buried deep under sudden avalanche.

The incident raises several questions including assessment of avalanche prone areas before allowing traffic on vulnerable stretches on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway. Due to less snowfall this winter, the strategic Zojila Pass, the vital link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh region, has remained open for a record duration. The opening of the highway is being credited to sustained snow clearance measures by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) besides Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh administrations.

Due to steep mountains, various areas in Kashmir including Sonamarg, Gulmarg, Gurez Uri, Keran, Machil, Sadna Top, Chowkibal are prone to avalanches. One of the devastating avalanches in Kashmir was witnessed on February 19, 2005 when 160 people were buried alive at Waltengoo Nar hamlet in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. On February 8, 2010, 17 soldiers were killed when a massive avalanche hit the Indian army’s High Altitude Warfare School in Gulmarg ski-resort in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district. On January 25, 2017, 20 army personnel were killed in avalanches which hit Sonamarg and Gurez sector. A Russian skier died after being buried under an avalanche while six others were rescued in Gulmarg on February 22, 2024.

The list of avalanches hitting in Kashmir is long and frequent! The........

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