As many as 300-350 people, including women andchildren, stuck on the road to the Zojila Pass, connecting the Kashmir Valleyto Ladakh, following heavy snowfall have been rescued by the Indian Army, a defencerelease said on Friday.

According to the release, the continuing westerlydisturbances led to heavy snowfall in the areas of Sonamarg, Baltal and Nilgrarupto the Zojila Pass on Thursday night even as a large number of loaded trucksand passenger vehicles were moving towards it."The untimely and heavysnowfall, especially on the higher reaches, resulted in many vehicles skiddingoff the road and getting stranded in the snow, causing traffic jam at manyplaces. Almost 250-300 trucks and passenger vehicles got stranded near the ZojilaPass."The traffic jam resulted in a very dangerous situation, whereinapproximately 300-350 people, including women and children, were stranded atabove 11,000 feet heat and temperatures at minus 7 degrees," it said,adding that army rescue columns, in coordination with the civil administration,moved promptly with aid.

As the police and GREF personnel got busy with clearing thetraffic and snow respectively, the army columns started providing immediatemedical aid and assistance.While the stranded vehicles were recovered andorganised to return, the stuck passengers were evacuated to Sonamarg town inArmy vehicles and medical assistance, hot food and blankets provided to them,the release said. This immediate and pro-active action by the Army was criticalin ensuring timely rescue, relief and saving precious lives. The humanitarianassistance provided to the Awam in their hour of need was muchappreciated," it said.