Avalanche Strikes Sonamarg in Kashmir; No Loss of Life Reported

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In the Ganderbal district of Jammu & Kashmir, Sonamarg experienced a considerable avalanche on Tuesday night, enveloping homes and vehicles in the Sarbal vicinity. Officials have confirmed that, despite the severity of the avalanche, there were no reported casualties or injuries.

The incident occurred around 10:12 PM, when a significant volume of snow barreled down from the mountains toward adjacent residences and hotels. CCTV footage documented the dramatic moment when the snow engulfed the structures.

Authorities reassured that no fatalities occurred. The area had received a high-intensity avalanche warning on Monday due to ongoing snowfall throughout the valley.

Tuesday's fresh snowfall also led to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, alongside the cancellation of all flights at Srinagar airport, leaving many tourists stranded.

National Highway 44 was shut down as snow built up near the Navyug tunnel at Qazigund and Banihal, rendering the road unsafe. All 58 scheduled flights, both arrivals and departures, at Srinagar International Airport were cancelled due to continuous snowfall jeopardizing runway safety.

Officials are actively monitoring the situation and have advised residents and tourists to remain vigilant in areas prone to avalanches.