NEW DELHI : If you are planning a trip to the picturesque Leh and Ladakh region during the winter season, do not worry about getting stranded in a car due to the freezing of diesel in sub-zero temperatures.

State-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has now launched a special winter-grade diesel which doesn't lose its fluidity even in extreme weather conditions.

During the winter season, the temperature in Ladakh goes below -25 degree Celsius to -30 degree Celsius. The winter-grade diesel, developed by IOCL's Panipat refinery, is usable up to -33 degree celsius.

"Indian Oil has come up with an innovative solution to the problem of loss of fluidity in diesel by introducing a special winter-grade diesel with a low pour point of -33° Celsius which doesn't lose its fluidity function even in extreme winter weather conditions," the fuel retailer said in a statement.

The winter grade diesel also meets BIS specification of BS-VI grade diesel.

Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Ladakh will now get uninterrupted supply of special winter-grade diesel, which will help reduce the hardships faced by the local people for transportation and mobility during the harsh winter months.

This will further facilitate the local economy as well as tourism of the region, he said adding that all diesel taxi vehicles in Ladakh stop working in the winter season as diesel gets frozen but now people can use winter-grade diesel.

IOC has made arrangements for pumping winter-grade diesel from Panipat refinery to Jalandhar and onward to Leh depot by road for regular availability of the product in the highest altitude petrol pumps at Leh-Ladakh.

"For nearly six decades, Indian Oil has been undertaking the mammoth annual task of advance winter stocking for the Ladakh region to ensure round-the-year availability of fuel supplies despite the closure of roads for nearly six months in severe weather conditions," IOC said adding it transports nearly 10 crore litres of petroleum products in a short span of just 5 months to the union territory.

Motorists in high-altitude sectors such as Ladakh, Kargil, Kaza and Keylong face the problem of freezing of diesel in their vehicles when winter temperatures drop to as low as minus 30-degrees Celsius.

(Inputs from agencies)

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