Srinagar: At least five people were killed and seven injured after a massive avalanche hit Zoji La Pass in Ladakh on Friday afternoon, burying a number of vehicles and blocking the Srinagar-Leh highway.
According to a local official, the vehicles came under a massive snow slide. One of the vehicles suffered the brunt of the damage, with five of its occupants dying on the spot.
Among the deceased are three men, a woman and a child.
A major rescue operation is underway, involving the police, Army, Border Roads Organisation, SDRF and district administrations of Sonamarg and Drass.
At least 15 vehicles were partially or fully buried under snow after the massive avalanche hit the highway in the afternoon.
🚨Breaking-
India- A small avalanche struck vehicles near Deyal Slade on the #Srinagar–#Ladakh National Highway at #Zojila Pass.Police sources: 6 dead, 1 missing while 5 are injured. Most of the victims are Leh residents.#breaking #Avalanche pic.twitter.com/pUEVXrW8UN
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) March 27, 2026
All efforts were being made to look for possible survivors trapped under the avalanche, and also to clear the road as soon as possible.
Vishal Atri, sub divisional magistrate of Drass, five deaths have been confirmed death in the tragic incident.
Casualties are expected to rise as so many vehicles were buried under snow.
Rescue operation was continuing from both sides of the highway — Sonamarg side in Kashmir and Drass side in Ladakh.
“A large stretch of the highway has been affected and when we reached the site we saw 12-15 vehicles under the snow. We couldn’t go to the back side of the avalanche,” Atri said.
