Heavy snowfall in Kargil, Drass; 300 stranded; roads closed

Kargil, Jan 10 (UNI) Drass-Kargil-Leh road was closed for traffic and all flights cancelled when the entire Ladakh region experienced first heavy snowfall of the season, today.

About 300 passengers, including 130 who were issued tickets for AN-32 Army plane, were stranded at Kargil since yesterday.

Drass, the second coldest place in the world after Siberia, experienced three feet of fresh snowfall during the past 24 hours, disrupting normal life, official sources said About one feet of snow had accumulated at Kargil where it was snowing heavily, they said.

The Drass-Kargil and Kargil-Leh National Highway has also been closed for the traffic because of heavy snowfall.

Tiger and Tololing hills and other hilly areas also recorded five to six feet of snowfall, affecting normal movement of troops posted there. Despite snow and chilly winds, troops remained alert to guard the Line of Control in the difficult terrain, the sources added.

About 300 people were stranded at Kargil when AN-32 flight to Jammu and Srinagar was cancelled due to the heavy snowfall.

Authorities claimed that there was enough stock of essential commodities, including rice, atta, sugar, kerosene oil and gas available in different parts of Kargil district for the winter months.

People said that they were getting fresh vegetables through cooperatives on nominal prices since the introduction of AN-32 services.

UNI XC/BAS RSA BD1947