Srinagar, March 28 -- Seven people were killed and several others injured after a massive avalanche struck the Srinagar-Leh highway at Zoji La in Ladakh on Friday, leaving multiple passenger vehicles stranded, officials aware of the matter said, adding that so far, five bodies have been recovered. Confirming the incident, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on X: "Saddened to learn about the tragic death of seven persons and injuries to five after an avalanche hit the vehicle at Zojila pass. My sincere condolences." The avalanche struck vehicles at Captain-turn in Drass along the highway in the afternoon, police said. At least 12-15 vehicles were partially or fully buried under snow. Following the incident, the administration launched a rescue operation involving the police, Army, Border Roads Organisation (BRO), SDRF, and district administrations of Sonamarg and Drass. Drass sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Vishal Atri said that five deaths have been confirmed so far and seven people were injured. "We have recovered only five bodies so far," he said. The deceased include two men - M Ali and Mohd Yousuf - one boy, Asadullah, and two women, Toiba Banoo and Sahar Banoo, all residents of Ladakh, Atri said. Of the injured, five are from Ladakh and two from Kashmir. "A large stretch of the highway has been affected. When we reached the site, we saw around 12-15 vehicles under the snow." Atri said, adding the rescue operations were launched from both sides of the highway, Sonamarg in Kashmir and Drass in Ladakh, with the help of the Army and BRO....