Fresh Snowfall closes Srinagar-Ladakh road over Zojila Pass
Fresh snowfall on May 21, 2026 closed the Srinagar-Ladakh road over Zojila Pass to traffic. The road sits more than 3.5 kilometres high and serves as the main lifeline linking Kashmir Valley with Ladakh.
Travellers and locals faced delays while teams worked to clear the snow and make the route safe again. May usually brings melting snow at these heights and easier travel, but this week’s weather reversed that pattern near Minamarg and around Zojila Pass.
Zojila Pass and Minamarg
The snow covered the high mountains around Zojila Pass in Ladakh and turned the area near Minamarg into a white landscape. A post carrying video by Aijaz Khan captured the scene at zero point Zojila on May 21, 2026, with the caption: "Fresh snowfall at zero point ZojilaDate:- 21 May 2026Video by: Aijaz khan /DzDiucUPib"
The closure cut traffic on a route that carries people and goods between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. That left clearance crews with the immediate task of opening the road again while the weather stayed active in the region.
Weather Across Ladakh
Rain and thunderstorms were lashing other parts of the state on May 21, 2026. The India Meteorological Department predicted stormy weather for the next three days, and the source linked the pattern to Western Disturbances mixing with cold mountain air.
At this altitude, that mix can bring snow to the passes while lower areas see rain and thunderstorms. For travelers heading toward Ladakh, the practical change is simple: the Srinagar-Ladakh road over Zojila Pass was shut, and movement depended on clearance work and the weather holding long enough for the route to reopen.
