The death toll in the Zojila Pass avalanche touched seven on Saturday (March 28, 2026), even as questions were raised over traffic regulations along the Ladakh-Kashmir axis, one of the most dangerous and unpredictable highway in the country at an elevation of 2,528 metres.
The body of a missing civilian, identified as Ali Akbar Shadab, was recovered on Saturday (March 28, 2026) during the search operation which resumed at 6 a.m. before concluding later in the day. Two women were among the dead, officials said.
“A total of 13 people were impacted in the avalanche. Five people were reported dead on Friday. One critically injured was shifted to the Kargil hospital, but died on Saturday. The seventh body was recovered from the avalanche site in the morning. Six people remain under treatment,” said Dr. Sajjad Hussain, Block Medical Officer, Drass.
Officials said the rescue operation was carried out by the teams of civil administration, the Army, and the Border Road Organisation (BRO). Several vehicles buried under snow were tracked and removed from the Srinagar-Leh highway, the only surface link between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The highway remains highly prone to avalanches, landslides, and shooting stones for the most part of the year.
