The Border Roads Organisation (Bro) rescued 60 people, including 40 army personnel, stranded at Chatergala Pass in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district after heavy snowfall. The 40-hour operation cleared 5-6 feet of snow at 10,500 feet altitude. This rescue came days after a tragic accident that killed 10 soldiers, highlighting the route's dangers.
Heavy snowfall on January 23 buried the 38-km Bhaderwah-Chamba road under 5-6 feet of snow at Chatergala Pass in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. The Border Roads Organisation (Bro) launched a snow-clearance operation on January 24 morning, involving the 118 Road Construction Company of the 35 Border Roads Task Force under Project Sampark. The effort lasted nearly 40 hours in sub-zero temperatures at 10,500 feet, braving extreme conditions where weather can turn fatal quickly. Defence Ministry spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Suneel Bartwal stated, “The route was opened by January 25 evening, enabling the safe evacuation of 20 stranded civilians and 40 troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles along with weapons and stores.” The mission concluded at 2:30 am on January 26 with zero casualties, executed in coordination with the Army to restore critical communication links. Bro personnel worked in 24x7 shifts to breach the snow wall. A senior Bro officer remarked, “For us, the motto ‘Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam’ (Everything is achievable through hard work) is not just a slogan, but a command.” The stranded Army personnel were heading towards Bhaderwah, while some civilians were en route to Kathua district’s Bani area. One civilian said, “We had lost all hope as the temperature was dipping rapidly and our vehicles were buried under snow.” Bro teams not only cleared the road but also provided hot tea and moral support. This rescue followed the January 22 accident at Khanni Top, 9,000 feet, where a vehicle skidded into a gorge, killing 10 soldiers and injuring 11, underscoring the route's risks. The pass is vital for supplies to Doda and Kathua districts and has been used by terrorists entering from the International Border.
