Drass witness fresh snowfall

Kargil, Mar 18 (UNI) Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, today witnessed fresh snowfall while people at Kargil protested against authorities' failure to airlift the students stranded in Srinagar.

Meanwhile, the Drass-Kargil road remained closed for the third day today due to snowfall and slippery road conditions.

Drass, on the Srinagar-Leh highway, experienced fresh snowfall since early this morning resulting in considerable drop in the temperature and disruption of normal life.

Official sources said the upper reaches in Drass and Kargil, including Mushkoo and Tiger Hill also experienced heavy snowfall.

However, Kargil-Leh road was through for traffic.

The Srinagar-Drass also remained closed for six winter months from November 15 due to heavy snowfall at Zojila, Zero point and Gumri.

The authorities have already announced holidays in all government and private educational institutions till tomorrow following heavy snowfall last week.

Official sources said Kargil also witnessed light snowfall early this morning.

People at Kargil airport protested against the authorities failure to airlift 25 students, including girls, of different educational institutions, who were on an all India tour and are now stranded in Srinagar.

The parents of the stranded students alleged that only teachers and other staff members who accompanied them, were airlifted yesterday.

UNI