Avalanche Hits Sonamarg Resort in Kashmir, No Casualties Reported

A massive avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night, officials said. The snow slide hit the resort area in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district at around 10.12 pm.

Despite the intensity of the avalanche, authorities confirmed that no casualties were reported, according to news agency PTI.

Videos of the incident circulated on social media, showing a quiet valley before a massive cloud of snow swept through the area. CCTV footage showed streets and buildings being engulfed by a thick wall of snow within seconds, with no people visible at the time.

The incident came amid heavy snowfall that disrupted normal life across the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday. All flights were cancelled at Srinagar airport, and several major roads, including the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, were closed.

“All flights to and from Srinagar airport have been cancelled due to bad weather and continuous snowfall,” an airport official said, advising passengers to contact airlines for rescheduling.

Officials also closed the 270-kilometre highway connecting Srinagar and Jammu due to slippery conditions and heavy snow accumulation between Banihal and Qazigund. Vehicular movement was suspended in both directions.

Several key routes, including the Mughal Road, Srinagar-Leh highway, and Sinthan Road, have remained closed since heavy snowfall on January 22–23.

Traffic remained thin, businesses were partially affected, and pedestrian movement was minimal as residents stayed indoors. Authorities said weather conditions were expected to improve from Wednesday and urged travellers to check connectivity before planning trips.

SSP (Traffic Rural) Ravinder Pal Singh said traffic was suspended as a precaution due to snowfall and rain. Vehicles travelling from Srinagar were diverted, while roads in remote areas such as Tanghdar, Sadna, Razdan Pass, and Gurez remained blocked.

Officials said the avalanche occurred a day after warnings were issued about high avalanche risk in the region. The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority had issued alerts for 11 districts across Kashmir and Jammu, warning of possible high-intensity avalanches until Tuesday evening.