Darcha-Shinkula Road Reconnects Himachal and Ladakh

After being buried under heavy snow for nearly two weeks, a vital mountain link has been pried open. Road connectivity between Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh via the high-altitude Darcha-Shinkula route has been restored, much to the relief of travelers and supply chains that depend on it.

The strategic road, which had been completely impassable, is now open for traffic. However, the journey remains a formidable one. At the towering Shinkula Pass, massive snow walls—five to eight feet deep in places—still flank the roadway. As a safety precaution, only sturdy four-wheel-drive vehicles are being allowed through for now.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) continues its round-the-clock battle against the elements, working to clear more snow and make the route safer. Deputy Commissioner of Lahaul-Spiti, Kiran Bhadana, offered a hopeful note, stating that if the weather holds and clearance work progresses, the route could soon be opened for tourist traffic as well.

Yet, while this key artery reopens, hardship persists just over the mountains. In the Outer Seraj region, Highway-305 remains choked under four feet of snow. The sight of a single JCB machine struggling to clear the pass has become a symbol of frustration for residents of 69 isolated panchayats. With the road blocked, daily life has turned into an arduous trek. Locals, like Bhage Ram Rana and others, report walking nearly five kilometers through deep snow just to fetch essentials. On a single day last week, some 50 people were seen making the risky crossing on foot.

Residents are pleading for more machinery to be deployed urgently from the Banjar side. The administration has promised to prioritize the situation, but for now, the communities of Outer Seraj continue to wait, their relief still buried under the snow.