The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has announced setting up a remotely operated avalanche warning and monitoring system at which sites along the Srinagar-Leh national highway?

1. A

   Sonmarg

2. B

   Zoji La

3. C

   Magnetic Hill

4. D

   Fotu La

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) installed the remotely operated avalanche warning system at the Zoji La pass.
• Zoji La is a high-altitude mountain pass on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh highway, known for heavy snowfall and frequent, dangerous avalanches.
• This strategic location is critical for connecting Ladakh with the rest of the country, making the warning system essential for the safety of both military and civilian traffic.
• The system was developed by DRDO's Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) to provide early warnings and mitigate risks.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Sonmarg is a tourist town located on the approach to Zoji La. The specialized high-altitude monitoring system is installed at the pass itself, not in the town below.
• Option C: Magnetic Hill is a well-known tourist spot near Leh, famous for an optical illusion where vehicles appear to roll uphill. It is not a high-risk avalanche zone requiring this type of monitoring system.
• Option D: Fotu La is the highest point on the Srinagar-Leh highway. However, Zoji La is considered more strategically critical and is more notorious for severe, frequent avalanches that cut off the entire region.

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Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Current Affairs and Indian Geography as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• Knowledge of strategic infrastructure projects is crucial for the general awareness section of competitive examinations.
• This topic highlights the role of premier Indian institutions like DRDO in national security and disaster management, specifically through its specialized labs like the Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE).
• Understanding the geography of border regions and the challenges faced in maintaining connectivity is an important aspect of general knowledge.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the keywords in the question: 'DRDO', 'avalanche warning system', and 'Srinagar-Leh national highway'.
• The purpose of the system is 'avalanche warning'. This implies the location must be a high-risk, high-altitude, and strategically important mountain pass.
• Evaluate the given options based on general geographical knowledge of the region.
• Recall or deduce that Zoji La is one of the most treacherous and avalanche-prone passes in the Himalayas, making it the most logical site for such a system.
• Eliminate the other options: Sonmarg is a town, not a pass; Magnetic Hill is a tourist spot known for a different phenomenon; Fotu La is high but less infamous for avalanches compared to Zoji La.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Current Affairs and Indian Geography
• Stem keywords: DRDO, avalanche warning system, Srinagar-Leh national highway
• Lead-in keywords: which sites

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