SRINAGAR: A massive avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night, though no casualties were reported, officials confirmed.
According to news agency PTI, the avalanche hit Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district at around 10:12 pm. CCTV footage captured the dramatic moment, showing a powerful surge of snow engulfing buildings and triggering strong winds in the area.
President of Beopar Mandal Sonamarg, Furqan Shera, said the avalanche impacted the truck yard area of Sonamarg. He added that no damage has been reported so far. The CCTV footage also showed that the intense winds generated by the avalanche affected nearby Sonamarg village.
Authorities had issued a warning on Monday, cautioning of a high-risk avalanche in the district.
Moderate to heavy snowfall has continued across Sonamarg and several other parts of the valley over the past 24 hours. Due to unsafe runway conditions caused by persistent snowfall, all 58 scheduled flights — including 29 arrivals and 29 departures — were cancelled at Srinagar airport on Tuesday, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded.
While Srinagar and surrounding areas experienced light to moderate snowfall, higher-altitude regions received heavy snow. Popular tourist destinations such as Sonamarg, Gulmarg, and Pahalgam have been blanketed in snow, transforming them into winter landscapes.
The Srinagar–Jammu national highway has been closed due to heavy snow accumulation between the Qazigund and Banihal stretch. Snow clearance operations are ongoing, but traffic remains suspended.
Train services were also disrupted, with several trains between Banihal and Budgam cancelled earlier in the day. Officials said services resumed within a few hours after tracks were cleared.
District administrations and police have established control rooms and helplines to assist residents. In severely affected areas where roads remain blocked, police personnel have been seen carrying patients on stretchers to ensure they receive timely medical care.
