Hundreds of people were stranded due to heavy snow from Changla Axis in Leh

Police launched a rescue operation on Friday evening after a large number of tourists and local travelers needed help.

Leh, Ladakh: Police rescued hundreds of passengers, including women and children, from the treacherous Changla Expressway, officials said.

Police launched a rescue operation on Friday evening after a large number of tourists and local travelers needed help.

Besides the UTDRF rescue team of Ladakh Police, Army and GREEF rescue team also actively participated in the rescue operation. Through their collective efforts, there was no mishap and all the passengers were safely shifted to Leh, police said.

The rescue operation was necessitated by continuous intermittent snowfall over the past two days, resulting in icy and slippery road conditions.

Many vehicles, including taxis and private cars, especially with tourists, became unstable at Changla Top.

In response to the emergency situation due to inclement weather and intermittent snowfall, as the icy road conditions worsened, police teams from Kharu and Tangste police posts rushed to Changla top to rescue and relieve travelers stranded at a particular focus. On women, children and tourists

"People with self-driving cars were diverted to police vehicles and local taxis, which took them to safety. Private drivers were also shifted to safety with the help of local drivers," the police said.

Further, priority was given to ensure timely evacuation of tourists and children experiencing medical complications towards Leh.

Ladakh Police has requested tourists and general public to follow the weather advisory and plan their journey to ensure a safe travel experience.