Kargil-Drass too receive heavy snowfall, 3 days holiday declared

Kargil, Mar 13 (UNI) The district administration has ordered closure of all educational institutions for three more days in the district following heavy snowfall.

Major roads from here to some towns and far flung and remote areas were closed for traffic due to one feet to three feet of fresh snowfall.

Deputy Commissioner of Kargil said all educational institutions will remain closed for three more days because of snowfall.

Official sources said upper reaches in Kargil, Drass, Muskhoo and Matayan recorded three to five feet of snowfall during the past 24 hours. Efforts are going on to reopen the roads, they said and claimed that there was enough stock of essential commodities, including rice, wheat, kerosene oil, LPG gas and sugar stored at different areas of the district.

Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, also recorded one feet while Kargil had nine inches of snowfall.

Meanwhile, the administration has directed people living in the snow avalanche prone areas in Drass and Zanaskar to remain indoor and avoid going to hilly areas.

The Srinagar-Drass-Kargil highway remained closed since November 15 for six winter months due to heavy snowfall.

UNI