Massive Avalanche Engulfs J&K’s Sonamarg Resort; No Casualties Reported
A massive avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night, sweeping through the area in seconds. The incident occurred around 10:12 pm in the Ganderbal district, according to officials.
Despite the intensity of the snow slide, authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported. Chilling CCTV footage shows a calm valley suddenly engulfed by a thick wall of snow, with streets and buildings disappearing within moments. No people were visible at the time.
Snowfall Disrupts Flights and Road Travel
Fresh snowfall across the Kashmir Valley also disrupted daily life. All flights to and from Srinagar airport were cancelled, and the 270-km Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed due to slippery roads and heavy snow between Banihal and Qazigund.
Other key routes, including the Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh (SSG) highway, and Sinthan Road, have remained closed since snowfall on January 22–23. Traffic was sparse, businesses partially affected, and most residents stayed indoors. Weather conditions are expected to improve from Wednesday, but travellers are advised to check air and road connectivity before planning journeys.
Authorities Advise Caution
SSP (Traffic Rural) Ravinder Pal Singh said, “The snowfall and rains started from Monday evening. As a precaution, traffic on the national highway has been suspended and commuters are advised to follow advisories. Some internal roads are connected, but remote areas like Tanghdar, Sadna, Razdan Pass, and Gurez remain blocked due to heavy snow.”
Prior Avalanche Warning
The avalanche occurred a day after authorities had issued high-risk avalanche warnings for the district. Sonamarg and other parts of Kashmir received moderate to heavy snowfall over the past 24 hours, raising the danger of avalanches.
The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) had issued avalanche warnings for 11 districts, including Ganderbal, Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramula, Kulgam, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, and Ramban. These warnings were in effect until Tuesday evening.
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