SRINAGAR: The 428-km Leh–Manali National Highway (NH-03) has been officially closed for all vehicular movement from Monday due to severe winter conditions.
PHOTO BY BILAL BAHADUR
The route will reopen next year once snow is cleared from the four high-altitude passes along the stretch.
Ladakh Police issued a public notice informing commuters of the closure and advising the general public to avoid attempting travel on the highway during the winter months. Officials said the step was taken in view of safety concerns arising from heavy snowfall, dropping temperatures and the high risk of road blockages.
The Leh–Manali Highway serves as the second major road link to the Union Territory of Ladakh, connecting Leh with Manali in Himachal Pradesh and providing a crucial alternative to the Srinagar–Leh route.
This year, the highway remained open slightly longer than usual, as it typically shuts from the third week of November. Weather conditions, however, have now made passage unsafe, prompting authorities to enforce the annual winter closure.
