An avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district late Tuesday night, but no loss of life or damage has been reported so far, officials said. The incident occurred at 10.12 pm and was captured on CCTV, showing heavy snow and strong winds sweeping through parts of the resort area.
District administrations and police set up control rooms and helpline numbers to assist residents and visitors. In snowbound areas where roads remained blocked, police personnel carried patients on stretchers to ensure they reached medical facilities.
Source: PTI
Sonmarg Avalanche caught on camera
Officials said CCTV footage showed a massive wall of snow moving rapidly and engulfing structures in its path. The avalanche hit the truck yard area of Sonamarg, according to Furqan Shera, President of Beopar Mandal Sonamarg. He said the strong winds generated by the avalanche also affected the nearby Sonamarg village, but no damage was reported.Prior warning issued by authorities
The avalanche came a day after authorities warned of a high-intensity or high-danger avalanche in the district. Sonamarg and several other parts of the Kashmir Valley received moderate to heavy snowfall over the past 24 hours, increasing the risk in high-altitude areas.Flights cancelled, tourists stranded
Continuous snowfall disrupted air travel in the Valley. Srinagar airport cancelled all 58 scheduled flights on Tuesday, including 29 arrivals and 29 departures, due to unsafe runway conditions. The cancellations left hundreds of tourists stranded.Highways and trains affected
Heavy snow accumulation forced the closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, particularly the Qazigund–Banihal stretch. Officials said no traffic was allowed while snow clearance operations were underway. Train services were also hit, with a few trains between Banihal and Budgam cancelled earlier in the day. Operations resumed after tracks were cleared.Valley turns into a winter spectacle
While Srinagar and other parts of the Valley recorded light to moderate snowfall, higher-altitude areas received heavy snow. Popular tourist resorts such as Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Pahalgam turned into winter landscapes, drawing attention even as travel disruptions continued.District administrations and police set up control rooms and helpline numbers to assist residents and visitors. In snowbound areas where roads remained blocked, police personnel carried patients on stretchers to ensure they reached medical facilities.
Source: PTI
