150 stranded people on Leh highway rescued

Srinagar, Nov 20: All the 150 passengers and drivers, stranded on the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway for three days after a heavy snowfall, have been rescued.

A police spokesman said a police team, along with some officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) from Drass, rescued the stranded passengers, including women, students and drivers.

They have been put up at Higher Secondary School at Drass and efforts are being made to make arrangments for their onward journey, he said.

He said the passengers are being provided food and other essentials.

The snared had left Srinagar two days back in 15 vehicles illegally after the highway was officially closed for the winter from November 15.

But due to slippery condition on roads after snowfall, a vehicle turned turtle in the middle of the way at Gumri where about two feet snowfall was recorded during the past three days.

The rescue team had to take extra precautions as the road from Shantan Nullah and Gumri was slippery and dangerous for undertaking the journey.

UNI