A massive avalanche swept through the Sarbal area of Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district late Tuesday night, engulfing houses and vehicles in its path. Despite the scale of the incident, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far, officials confirmed.
Avalanche Strikes Popular Tourist Zone
#BREAKING: Dramatic visuals of an avalanche caught on CCTV in Sonmarg of Central Kashmir tonight in India. No loss of life or major damage reported. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/FZkJRpFTcg
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 27, 2026
#BREAKING: Dramatic visuals of an avalanche caught on CCTV in Sonmarg of Central Kashmir tonight in India. No loss of life or major damage reported. More details are awaited. pic.twitter.com/FZkJRpFTcg
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 27, 2026
According to authorities, the avalanche occurred at around 10:12 pm on Tuesday, when a large volume of snow suddenly rushed down the mountainside towards residential structures and hotels in the popular tourist destination of Sonamarg.
CCTV footage from the area captured the dramatic moment the avalanche descended, showing snow rapidly advancing and covering buildings and parked vehicles within seconds.
No Loss of Life, Say Officials
Officials reiterated that there were no reports of any loss of life, despite the intensity of the snow slide. The area had already been placed under a high-intensity avalanche warning on Monday due to continuous snowfall across the Kashmir valley.
Emergency teams were kept on alert, and precautionary measures had been advised for residents and tourists in avalanche-prone zones.
Fresh Snowfall Disrupts Kashmir Connectivity
Meanwhile, fresh snowfall across Kashmir on Tuesday severely disrupted transport and travel, leaving hundreds of tourists stranded in the valley.
The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) was closed after heavy snow accumulation near the Navyug tunnel at Qazigund and Banihal, officials said. Snow clearance operations were underway, but adverse weather conditions hampered restoration efforts.
All Flights Cancelled at Srinagar Airport
Air connectivity was also hit as all 58 scheduled flights at Srinagar International Airport — including 29 arrivals and 29 departures — were cancelled.
Authorities said the runway could not be made operational as snowfall continued throughout the day, making it unsafe for aircraft operations.
Authorities on Alert
Officials said the situation is being closely monitored as more snowfall is forecast in parts of the valley. Residents and tourists have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from avalanche-prone areas until conditions improve.