Border Roads Organisation battles 6-foot snow for 40 hours to rescue 60 in J&K

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Sunday successfully carried out a high-altitude rescue and road restoration operation at Chatergala Pass in Jammu and Kashmir after heavy snowfall cut off the Bhaderwah-Chatergala axis last week.

The operation was led by the 118 Road Construction Company of the 35 Border Roads Task Force under Project Sampark. Chatergala Pass, located at an altitude of around 10,500 feet, had been buried under five to six feet of snow following intense snowfall on January 23, disrupting all movement in the area.

Snow-clearance work began early on January 24 at 6.30 am and continued non-stop for nearly 40 hours. During the operation, BRO teams cleared about 38 kilometres of snow-covered road. The route was reopened by the evening of January 25, restoring vital connectivity.

Once the road was made passable, 40 troops from the 4 Rashtriya Rifles, along with their weapons and supplies, were safely evacuated. In addition, 20 civilians who had been stranded due to the closure were also rescued.

The entire rescue mission was completed by 2.30 am on January 26 without any casualties, despite harsh weather and extreme winter conditions. The operation was carried out in close coordination with the Indian Army.

Officials said the successful mission once again highlighted BRO’s role in maintaining critical infrastructure and providing humanitarian assistance in difficult terrain. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring connectivity in remote regions, living up to its motto, Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (Everything is achievable through hard work).

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