Caught On Camera: Massive Avalanche Strikes J&K’s Sonamarg, Houses Buried In Snow
An avalanche of enormous force thundered down the mountains of Sonamarg late Tuesday night, turning the Sarbal area in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district into a sea of snow and debris. Several houses and vehicles were swallowed by the slide, though officials said there were no reports of injuries or loss of life.
The incident occurred at around 10.12 pm in the popular tourist hub, when a huge mass of snow broke loose and rushed toward nearby residential buildings and hotels. CCTV visuals from the area captured the chilling moment the avalanche advanced rapidly, covering structures within moments.
Authorities said Sonamarg and surrounding regions had already been placed under a high-intensity avalanche warning on Monday following continuous snowfall across the Kashmir Valley. Despite the strength of the avalanche, officials reiterated that there were “no reports of any loss of life,” offering some relief after the dramatic incident.
The fresh spell of snowfall has caused widespread disruption across the region. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was shut after heavy snow accumulation near the Navyug tunnel at Qazigund and along the Banihal stretch, cutting off the valley’s main road link.
Air travel was also hit hard. All 58 scheduled flights at Srinagar International Airport 29 arrivals and 29 departures were cancelled as persistent snowfall made runway operations unsafe throughout the day. The cancellations have left hundreds of travellers and tourists stranded.
Snowfall that began late Monday night continued through Tuesday, blanketing Kashmir under a thick white cover. Disaster management teams and local authorities remain on high alert, closely monitoring weather conditions and avalanche-prone zones as the winter spell continues.
The incident occurred at around 10.12 pm in the popular tourist hub, when a huge mass of snow broke loose and rushed toward nearby residential buildings and hotels. CCTV visuals from the area captured the chilling moment the avalanche advanced rapidly, covering structures within moments.
Authorities said Sonamarg and surrounding regions had already been placed under a high-intensity avalanche warning on Monday following continuous snowfall across the Kashmir Valley. Despite the strength of the avalanche, officials reiterated that there were “no reports of any loss of life,” offering some relief after the dramatic incident.
The fresh spell of snowfall has caused widespread disruption across the region. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway was shut after heavy snow accumulation near the Navyug tunnel at Qazigund and along the Banihal stretch, cutting off the valley’s main road link.
Air travel was also hit hard. All 58 scheduled flights at Srinagar International Airport 29 arrivals and 29 departures were cancelled as persistent snowfall made runway operations unsafe throughout the day. The cancellations have left hundreds of travellers and tourists stranded.
Snowfall that began late Monday night continued through Tuesday, blanketing Kashmir under a thick white cover. Disaster management teams and local authorities remain on high alert, closely monitoring weather conditions and avalanche-prone zones as the winter spell continues.
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