File photo SRINAGAR: A day after an avalanche struck at Zero Point at Zoji La, located at an altitude of over 11,500 ft, killing seven people from Kargil and injuring six others, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil Saturday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of a lax response and urged the govts of Union Territories of Ladakh and J&K to treat Zero Point as part of Ladakh’s territory.Addressing a press conference in Drass, LAHDC-Kargil councillors praised the Army, civil administration and Ladakh Police for prompt rescue efforts and retrieval of bodies from the snow following the accident on Friday afternoon. However, they expressed surprise over “J&K Police investigating the incident on Saturday morning”. While J&K claimed the area to be part of its territory, its administrative machinery was always slow to respond when any mishap occurred there, they alleged.Israel Iran War‘A tremendous mistake’: Trump says he’ll cut spending on Nato over Iran war snubStrait Of Hormuz Standoff: Trump pauses Iran strikes; Tehran tightens oil leverageThe councillors, in fact, disputed J&K’s claim that Zero Point, stretching about five km, falls under its jurisdiction.J&K officials maintain that Zero Point at Zoji La marks the boundary between Ganderbal district in Kashmir and Kargil district in Ladakh. The councillors, however, said Zero Point is not a boundary, but a location used for snow-clearance operations by two wings of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) — BEACON and Vijayak, handling the Kashmir and the Ladakh sides, respectively.The chief executive councillor of LAHDC-Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, said since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K into two UTs on Aug 5, 2019, the boundary at Zoji La had not been demarcated and Zero Point fell under Ladakh’s jurisdiction, he said.Akhoon said heavy vehicles should not have been allowed to move along with light vehicles on Friday, and urged authorities to allow traffic on the Srinagar-Kargil road only before 11 am to reduce the risk of vehicles getting caught in avalanches. “Local wisdom suggests that during March and April, snow begins to melt at Zoji La in the afternoon, increasing the risk of avalanches,” he said.While praising BRO for “doing a commendable job in keeping Zoji La open during winter”, Akhnoor stressed that “better management and consideration of local wisdom are needed” to prevent accidents.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosLearning From Iran War, India Clears Strike Drone Squadrons For Indian Air ForceIndia’s Fourth S-400 System Undergoing Final Trials In Russia, Delivery Expected SoonJag Vasant LPG Vessel Docks At Gujarat Port After Hormuz Passage DelayAdani Delivers 2000 Prahar LMGs Early, Signalling New Speed In India’s Defence Push Forward’Taking Every Step’: PM Modi’s BIG Assurance To Tackle Global Shock Without Hurting CitizensIAF’s Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team Displays India’s Air Power In Stunning Chandigarh Air ShowAmid Tensions, Iran Allows Two Indian LPG Ships Carrying 90,000 MT Fuel To Sail Out Safely’Turned Noida Into ATM For Loot’: PM Modi Blasts Akhilesh Yadav For Delay In Jewar Airport OpeningPakistan’s Terror Links Under Global Lens, US Congressional Report Echoes India’s Claim On TerrorismIndia’s Clears ₹2.38 Lakh Crore Defence Proposals Across Services In Major Procurement Push123PhotostoriesMomo for dinner: How this can help in reducing inflammation and the right under 20-minute recipeBroccoli to Dark Chocolate: 6 brain-boosting superfoods for kids to consume daily and the right way to eat themLeg cramps, swelling, or heaviness? Doctors decode what your body may be lacking, and simple ways to find reliefCapsicum to Cabbage: 6 vegetables you shouldn’t eat raw and what to do insteadPrincess Diana to Grace Kelly: 5 most beautiful royal bridal veils of all time’Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’to ‘Harry Potter Deathly Hallows – Part 2′: Plot recap ahead of TV series release5 elite residential areas in Surat known for luxury livingLPG Shortage: 5 step complete guide on how to make perfectly puffed roti on an inductionThese birth dates are known as powerful healers’The Vampire Diaries’, ‘Dawson’s Creek’, ‘Gilmore Girls’: Best romantic TV shows to binge-watch that defined modern love123Hot PicksE-chequesIndia-US trade dealNoida International AirportUS Iran WarIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingTiger Woods CrashBabar AzamH-1B lotteryVaibhav SooryavanshiMadhya Pradesh High CourtRoyal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Live ScoreNoelia CastilloUS travel advisoryAnti-vaccine rowH-1B visa
SRINAGAR: A day after an avalanche struck at Zero Point at Zoji La, located at an altitude of over 11,500 ft, killing seven people from Kargil and injuring six others, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council-Kargil Saturday accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of a lax response and urged the govts of Union Territories of Ladakh and J&K to treat Zero Point as part of Ladakh’s territory.Addressing a press conference in Drass, LAHDC-Kargil councillors praised the Army, civil administration and Ladakh Police for prompt rescue efforts and retrieval of bodies from the snow following the accident on Friday afternoon. However, they expressed surprise over “J&K Police investigating the incident on Saturday morning”. While J&K claimed the area to be part of its territory, its administrative machinery was always slow to respond when any mishap occurred there, they alleged.The councillors, in fact, disputed J&K’s claim that Zero Point, stretching about five km, falls under its jurisdiction.J&K officials maintain that Zero Point at Zoji La marks the boundary between Ganderbal district in Kashmir and Kargil district in Ladakh. The councillors, however, said Zero Point is not a boundary, but a location used for snow-clearance operations by two wings of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) — BEACON and Vijayak, handling the Kashmir and the Ladakh sides, respectively.The chief executive councillor of LAHDC-Kargil, Dr Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, said since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K into two UTs on Aug 5, 2019, the boundary at Zoji La had not been demarcated and Zero Point fell under Ladakh’s jurisdiction, he said.Akhoon said heavy vehicles should not have been allowed to move along with light vehicles on Friday, and urged authorities to allow traffic on the Srinagar-Kargil road only before 11 am to reduce the risk of vehicles getting caught in avalanches. “Local wisdom suggests that during March and April, snow begins to melt at Zoji La in the afternoon, increasing the risk of avalanches,” he said.While praising BRO for “doing a commendable job in keeping Zoji La open during winter”, Akhnoor stressed that “better management and consideration of local wisdom are needed” to prevent accidents.
