The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has started reopening an alternative road link to Kargil in Ladakh from Himachal Pradesh that lies over a high snow-bound pass about three months earlier than usual this year.
The road passes over the 16,700-ft-high Shinku La Pass that connects Lahaul region of Himachal with Zanskar region to the north. The road branches off from the Manali-Leh Highway at Darcha, about 30 kilometres ahead of Keylong and joins up with Padum on the other side. This road then proceeds to Kargil.
The 70 Road Construction Company of the BRO is undertaking the snow-clearance work. “This is for the first time that we have started clearing snow on this route in March. Earlier, this work used to begin only in May or June,” a BRO officer said.
