On Sunday, the weather changed in the mountains. The first snowfall of the season was received on Sunday in Mughal Road, Gulmarg and Dras in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In view of this, traffic movement on Mughal road has been stopped as a precautionary measure.
At the same time, snowfall fell on the hills of Shikarup in Himachal Pradesh including Rohtang, Ghepan Peak, Lady of Kelang, Mulkila, Neelkanth, Kugati Pass. The Zojila Pass is expected to be closed in view of continued snowfall on the Srinagar-Leh Highway in the Drass sector, the gateway to Ladakh on the Srinagar-Leh highway, called the strategically important and Ladakhis lifeline.
The Jojira Pass is normally closed in the month of November. The snowfall may affect the construction of a 14.2 km long tunnel at the Zojila Pass in the first season.
After decades of waiting, construction of 14.2 km long tunnel at Zojila Pass has started from October 15. The construction agency is still busy in delivering the goods including machinery. In the very first season, the snowfall may affect the tunnel construction before the scheduled time. A representative of Megha Constructions said that construction is a challenge between high altitude above sea level and weather woes.
