Srinagar: A biker had a close call while riding on the narrow Zojila pass on Srinagar-Ladakh road.
The incident was captured by another biker last month. It shows how lucky the motorcyclist was and why one should not attempt overtaking on such narrow passages.
The video may give you a hint or two about how treacherous the road can be especially when it is muddy and slippery after a rainfall.
The video shows a biker riding on the narrow pass as a truck loaded with metal poles drives ahead of him.
The biker attempts to overtake the truck but finds himself in a very tight spot close to the edge of the road.
His bike slips and he narrowly escapes plunging down the gorge that is hundreds of feet deep.
The biker behind him pulls over and goes to check on his colleague.
The incident shows why overtaking on such narrow paths can prove fatal.
Zojila, which connects Kashmir with Ladakh, is among the most dangerous mountain roads in India.
The video begins with both motorcyclists following the truck and the majestic beauty of the snow-covered mountains on a snaking stretch. Suddenly, one of them decides to overtake the truck from the cliff side. The other rider warns him. “Dekh ke (watch out),” he says.
Not able to get enough space to move past the truck, the first rider abandons the plan but still drives along the edge. And before he can realise, he gets dangerously close to the iron pipes and loses balance. Failing to balance the heavily loaded motorcycle, he bends over the cliff. “Easy, easy, easy,” says the rider behind him.
The first rider somehow manages to hold himself back from sliding off the cliff but is unable to pull up the vehicle. The other rider then walks up to him and helps him get on the bike again. “At Zoji La Pass, we had this extreme close call and we’re lucky to be alive,” a message, which appears during the video, reads.
The video was shared by Bhupender Jaat. The incident occurred last month but was shared on the YouTube channel ViralHog on Sunday. It has clocked more than 5,100 views so far.
“Everything about this video is legit, life-threatening. The road, the truck, the cliff, the traffic behind. Attempting to pass seems about as reasonable as texting while driving. Oh wait…” commented one user.