JAMMU: The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully evacuated 60 people and reopened a strategic road in Jammu and Kashmir following a challenging high-altitude operation amid heavy snowfall.
Officials said the Bhaderwah–Chatergala axis, located at an altitude of around 10,500 feet, had been cut off due to severe snow accumulation. The 118 Road Construction Company of the BRO’s 35 Border Roads Task Force, under Project Sampark, worked continuously for nearly 40 hours to restore connectivity.
About 38 kilometres of the snowbound road, buried under five to six feet of snow, was cleared during the operation.
“The route was reopened by the evening of January 25, facilitating the safe evacuation of 20 stranded civilians and 40 troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles along with their weapons and stores,” an official said.
The rescue mission was completed by 2:30 am with zero casualties. The operation was carried out in close coordination with the Indian Army, ensuring swift relief efforts and the restoration of critical communication links in the region.
