Photo Story by Quamar Equbal and Sumit Singh: Rohtang is a vibrant artery of travel, adventure, and survival, pulsing with stories of resilient people who call this rugged pass their lifeline. But unchecked tourism, pollution, and rising environmental concerns have left it under siege.

‘The avalanche went to ground; in its path all snow had slipped off the mountain, leaving only rocks and ice. For a moment the world was suspended in fear and dread. Chaos followed.’ Zachary Conrad recalls a fateful snowboarding adventure in Gulmarg and the lessons learned at the mercy of snowy, Kashmiri peaks.