Kargil, Leh reconnected with rest of country

And it was also a record of sorts. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) which maintains the strategically-crucial route said the road had never been re-opened for traffic this early in the year. Major General J R Mukherjee, Chief of Staff at the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, admitted the early reopening was, in part, because of “security considerations.”

In fact, the road which used to remain snow-bound for over half of the year, remained closed for less than four months this time. Some traffic was plying on it as late as January 10. On February 25, the BRO began clearing the snow again and some vehicles began moving on it around April 10.

But the BRO engineers rule out the possibility of keeping the road open throughout the year. There is no point fighting nature, BRO’s Major General K S Rao said.

Officially, the first convoy was flagged off across Zojila Pass around noon today – after a brief prayer ceremony at an altitude of 3530 metres. Armymen, civil administration officials, and labourers watched as a pandit, a moulvi and a granthi recited from scriptures.

A red ribbon, stretched between two brand-new snow-movers, was cut. A convoy of civilian lorries, carrying the first load of supplies for people in the Ladakh region, was flagged off by Kashmir divisional commissioner, Khursheed Ahmed Ganai. Next, Mukherjee waved ahead an Army convoy through the pass between snow-covered mountains.

J&K Minister of State for Works Qamar Ali Akhoon would have perhaps done the honours. But a little jinx led to a change of plans: His Jammu to Kashmir flight was cancelled yesterday on the last minute.

Last year the Zojila Pass was cleared for traffic on May 9, then considered an “early” reopening. Within a matter of days the Kargil battle started and military trucks were rumbling towards the theatre of war.

Before the pass was buried under snow again, the military had stocked up for troops who would spend the entire winter at their high-altitude posts to deter Pakistan. It has been a peaceful winter. Army officers said there were no significant weather casualties either. “Not more than usual,” Mukherjee said. He also denied reports of any intrusion from across the Line of Control.