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Massive Avalanche Hits Sonamarg in Kashmir, No Casualties Reported

By Our Correspondent

SRINAGAR - A high-intensity avalanche struck the popular tourist destination of Sonamarg in Indian Occupied Kashmir late Tuesday night, officials, but no casualties or major property damage were reported.

The avalanche, recorded on CCTV, occurred at midnight in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal.

Footage showed snow and debris sweeping across several structures in the area. Authorities confirmed that residents and tourists were unharmed.

Officials had issued warnings on Monday, alerting the public to the risk of avalanches amid heavy snowfall across the region. The Srinagar-Jammu Highway, a vital all-weather road connecting Kashmir with northern India, reopened Wednesday after being closed due to adverse weather conditions.

Avalanches in the Indian Himalayas have been deadly in recent years, claiming more than 120 lives since 2021. In February 2024, a Russian skier was killed in a similar incident at Gulmarg, another major tourist site, while six others were rescued.

Jammu and Kashmir experienced fresh snow and rain from early Monday through late Tuesday night. Weather conditions improved starting Wednesday, with forecasts indicating dry spells until the end of January before precipitation is expected to return in February.