Massive avalanche sweeps through iconic Sonamarg in Kashmir, no casualty reported

A massive avalanche struck the iconic tourist resort of Sonamarg in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Tuesday night, engulfing houses, hotels and vehicles. However, no loss of life has been reported, officials said.

The avalanche hit Sonamarg at 10:12 pm on Tuesday, bringing down a large amount of snow from the mountain towards the homes and hotels that came in its way. CCTV footage from the area captured a terrifying wall of snow cascading down the mountainside with tremendous force, sweeping everything in its path and engulfing several buildings within seconds. The visuals underline the sheer intensity of the avalanche and the speed at which it struck the area.

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Meanwhile, fresh snowfall across Kashmir disrupted normal life on Tuesday. The Jammu–Srinagar national highway was shut, and all flights at Srinagar airport were cancelled due to the snow covered runway, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in Kashmir. The railways ran a special train from Srinagar to Katra in Jammu to carry stranded people.

The Meteorological Centre Srinagar on Wednesday warned the people against venturing near the snow-bound higher reaches in sloppy & avalanche prone areas.

In its advisory, the Ganderbal Police said, “An avalanche occurred last night at around 10:15 pm near New Truck Yard, Sonamarg. Fortunately, the impact was minimal and no loss of life or property has been reported. Police team along with SDRF timely reported in said area to assess the situation”.

“Concerned agencies are closely monitoring the situation, and precautionary measures are being kept in place to ensure public safety in the region,” it added.

“In view of the prevailing conditions, the Ganderbal Police adhere to the general public, tourists, and transporters to strictly avoid visiting or halting in avalanche-prone areas. The chances of avalanches remain very high, and unnecessary movement in vulnerable zones can pose serious risks”, the police said.

“People are urged to follow official advisories, cooperate with local authorities, and prioritize safety while traveling through the Sonamarg axis and adjoining areas”, Police said.
On the other hand, Ladakh’s Weather Department has warned of a high risk of avalanche in the snowbound areas of Kargil.