A massive avalanche hit the tourist resort of Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night, causing panic but no casualties, officials said.
The avalanche struck Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district at around 10.12 pm. CCTV footage from the area shows a powerful wall of snow rushing down the mountainside and engulfing several buildings in its path.
Despite the force of the avalanche and the damage visible on camera, officials confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far. Emergency teams and local authorities moved in quickly to assess the situation and keep watch for any further risk.
The avalanche came as fresh snowfall across Kashmir disrupted normal life on Tuesday. The Jammu–Srinagar national highway was shut, and all flights at Srinagar airport were cancelled, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in the valley.
Snowfall that began late Monday night blanketed large parts of the region. Officials said National Highway 44 was closed after heavy snow accumulated near the Navyug tunnel at Qazigund and the Banihal stretch.
At Srinagar International Airport, all 58 scheduled flights — 29 arrivals and 29 departures — were cancelled. Authorities said continuous snowfall made the runway unsafe for aircraft operations.
The Meteorological Department has forecast light to moderate rain or snow across most areas, with the possibility of thunder or gusty winds in some places. Light precipitation is also expected on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority has issued avalanche warnings for 11 districts. A high-danger warning is in place for areas above 2,000 metres in Ganderbal district. Medium-danger warnings have been issued for similar elevations in Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kulgam and Kupwara in Kashmir, and in Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri and Ramban in the Jammu region.
– Ends
With inputs from PTI
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Jan 28, 2026
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