Chadar Trek Postponed as Zanskar River Fails to Freeze

Key facts

• The Chadar trek on the frozen Zanskar river in Ladakh has been deferred due to inadequate ice formation.
• The trek, scheduled to begin on January 10, is now expected to commence around January 15.
• Additional Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Ghulam Mohammad said a team visited the trek route on Saturday and will submit its report by Monday.
• The district administration will deploy additional National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel this year to enhance rescue preparedness.
• Rigzin Wangmo Lachic, President of the All Ladakh Hotel and Guest House Association (ALHGHA), said the delay was due to incomplete ice formation on the Zanskar River.
• In 2024, the route was truncated due to the construction of the Nimu–Padum–Darcha Road (NPDR) by the Border Roads Organisation under Project Yojak.
• Concerns have been raised over lack of complete ice formation reportedly due to global warming and changing climatic conditions.
• Last year, the trek commenced on January 13.