Massive Avalanche Sweeps J&K’s Sonamarg Resort; No Casualties Reported
A massive avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night, engulfing the area within seconds. The incident occurred around 10:12 pm in Ganderbal district, officials said.
Miraculously, no casualties were reported. CCTV footage shows the serene valley suddenly overtaken by a thick wall of snow, with streets and buildings buried in moments. No people were visible at the time.
Snowfall Disrupts Life Across Kashmir
Heavy snowfall across the Kashmir Valley disrupted daily life. All flights at Srinagar airport were cancelled, and the 270-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed due to slippery roads and snow accumulation between Banihal and Qazigund. Other key routes, including the Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh (SSG) highway, and Sinthan Road, remained blocked.
Traffic was sparse, businesses partially affected, and residents largely stayed indoors. Authorities expect weather conditions to improve from Wednesday and have urged travellers to check road and air connectivity before planning trips.
Authorities Warned of Avalanche Risk
The avalanche struck a day after officials issued high-risk avalanche warnings for Ganderbal. Sonamarg and several Kashmir districts received moderate to heavy snowfall over the past 24 hours, increasing the threat of avalanches.
The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) had issued warnings for 11 districts, including Ganderbal, Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramula, Kulgam, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, and Ramban, effective until Tuesday evening.
SSP (Traffic Rural) Ravinder Pal Singh said, “Some internal roads are accessible, but remote areas like Tanghdar, Sadna, Razdan Pass, and Gurez remain blocked due to heavy snow. Commuters are advised to follow advisories and exercise caution.”
Comments are closed.