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Massive Avalanche Hits Sonamarg Tourist Resort; No Lives Lost

A significant snow avalanche struck the Sarbal area of Sonamarg tourist resort in Ganderbal district, damaging houses, hotels, and vehicles but fortunately causing no loss of life. The incident has compounded severe weather disruptions, leading to the cancellation of all flights at Srinagar airport and the closure of major highways including the Srinagar-Jammu route. Heavy snowfall has also suspended traffic on other key mountain passes and caused widespread power outages in rural areas. In response to the situation, the J&K government has suspended five officials for negligence during snow-clearance operations.

Key Points: Sonamarg Avalanche: No Casualties, Major Disruptions

  • Avalanche hit Sarbal area of Sonamarg
  • No casualties reported
  • Major highway and flight disruptions
  • Power outages in rural areas
  • Officials suspended for duty dereliction
2 min read

Snow avalanche hits J&K's Sonamarg; no loss of life

A large snow avalanche struck Sonamarg, J&K, damaging property but causing no loss of life. Widespread travel and power disruptions reported.

Snow avalanche hits J&K's Sonamarg; no loss of life
"The avalanche entered some houses and hotels... No loss of life has occurred. - Officials"

Srinagar, Jan 28

A massive snow avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, but there was no loss of life, said the officials on Wednesday.

Officials said the avalanche hit the Sarbal area of Sonamarg around 10.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

"The avalanche entered some houses and hotels in addition to hitting some parked vehicles in the area. No loss of life has occurred due to the avalanche," officials said.

Sonamarg and other higher areas of Ganderbal district are avalanche-prone, and the authorities have been issuing timely warnings for people living in such vulnerable areas not to move around during snowfall and after it.

Around 4 feet of snow has accumulated on the ground in Sonamarg during the last four days. The weather office has forecast dry, cloudy weather from Wednesday onwards with light rain and snow at some isolated places.

Due to continuing snowfall, all flights at the Srinagar International Airport were cancelled.

Traffic department officials have said that in view of snowfall on both sides of the Navyug tunnel on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the highway will remain closed for traffic on Wednesday. Intending travellers have been advised not to undertake the journey on the highway unless they contact the traffic control rooms in Srinagar and Jammu to know about the latest status of the highway.

Traffic on the Srinagar-Leh and the Mughal Road has also been affected due to heavy snowfall in Pir Ki Gali (on the Mughal Road) and the Zojila Pass on the Srinagar-Leh highway.

Traffic on roads passing through Sinthan Pass in Anantnag district and Razdan Pass in Bandipora district has also been suspended.

The J&K government has suspended five officials of the roads and buildings department for dereliction of duties during snow-clearance operations in the Valley. After the fresh snowfall, the electric supply to most rural areas has again been disrupted, with reports of faults along the transmission lines in the Valley. The employees of the power development corporation are working overtime to restore supply in areas facing disruption.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
No loss of life is the biggest relief. But reading about the highway closures, flight cancellations, and power disruptions shows how fragile our infrastructure is in the face of nature's fury. Five officials suspended for dereliction of duty during snow-clearance? Good! Accountability is needed.
A
Aman W
Sonamarg is so beautiful but so dangerous in winter. My heart goes out to the locals and hotel owners whose properties were hit. Avalanche entered houses! Can't imagine the fear. Hope the government provides quick assessment and compensation for the damage to vehicles and buildings.
S
Sarah B
The resilience of the people living in these avalanche-prone areas is remarkable. Following warnings and staying indoors saves lives. Sending strength to all the workers—from traffic police to power corporation employees—who are working overtime in these extreme conditions. Stay safe!
V
Vikram M
While it's a relief there were no casualties, the article highlights a pattern. Every year, snowfall disrupts the Valley completely. The suspension of officials is a reactive step. We need more proactive, permanent solutions—better infrastructure, more robust power lines, and advanced early warning systems. Just my two cents.
K
Kriti O
Zojila Pass, Mughal Road, Sinthan Pass all closed... the entire region is cut off! This must be so hard for essential supplies and for people who need to travel. Hope the weather clears soon and the brave Border Roads Organisation teams can open the routes. ❄️

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