90 vehicles with essential commodities stranded at Sonmarg

GANDERBAL — Srinagar-Leh road on Saturday has been closed due to incessant rains at Zojila, Gumri and Sonamarg.

An official said that due to closure of Srinagar-Leh road, over 90 heavy motor vehicles have been stranded at Sonamarg. All these vehicles were on way to Kargil and Leh with essential supplies.

Last week, over 80 vehicles with essential commodities crossed Zojila and reached Leh. The road is not open for common passengers but only vehicles carrying essential commodities are being allowed to ply on this dangerous road.

In the past, the Srinagar-Leh highway was either closed due to heavy snowfall or due to landslides caused by melting snow. This year, however, for the first time in at least a decade, Srinagar-Leh highway was thrown open for vehicles carrying essential supplies before time, in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.