Massive Avalanche Strikes Sonamarg Amid Relentless Snowfall
By: Javid Amin | 27 January 2026
A high-intensity avalanche tore through Sonamarg, the famous alpine resort in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, late Tuesday night, as heavy snowfall crippled life across the Valley. The avalanche, triggered around 10:12 pm, sent a powerful wall of snow crashing into the resort area, engulfing several structures and sending shockwaves through an already weather-battered region.
CCTV footage from Sonamarg shows a roaring mass of snow cascading down mountain slopes, engulfing buildings in seconds and plunging the area into darkness and chaos. Despite the scale and ferocity of the avalanche, no casualties have been reported so far, a fact authorities describe as “fortunate” given the intensity of the event.
The avalanche occurred as Kashmir remains under the grip of intense winter weather, driven by back-to-back Western Disturbances, which have dumped heavy snow across higher reaches and torrential precipitation in plains. The weather has paralysed air, road, and rail connectivity, leaving hundreds of residents and tourists stranded.
Avalanche in Sonamarg: What Happened
Sonamarg, situated at an altitude of over 2,700 metres, is among Kashmir’s most avalanche-prone zones during peak winter. Late Tuesday night, after hours of continuous snowfall, accumulated snowpack on surrounding slopes gave way, releasing a high-velocity avalanche that surged into the resort area.
Key Details of the Avalanche
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Time: Approximately 10:12 pm
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Location: Sonamarg tourist zone, Ganderbal district
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Intensity: High-energy, fast-moving avalanche
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Impact: Several buildings damaged or partially buried
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Casualties: None reported so far
Emergency responders, including local police, disaster response teams, and snow clearance units, rushed to the area despite adverse weather. Search operations were launched immediately to ensure no one remained trapped under the snow.
Officials confirmed that tourists had largely remained indoors due to weather advisories, which significantly reduced exposure at the time of the avalanche.
Why Sonamarg Is Highly Vulnerable to Avalanches
From an environmental and geophysical perspective, Sonamarg’s vulnerability is well-documented:
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Steep Mountain Slopes: The surrounding terrain consists of sharp gradients ideal for snow slides.
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Heavy Snow Accumulation: Consecutive snowfall events create unstable snow layers.
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Wind Loading: Strong winds deposit snow unevenly, increasing slab avalanche risk.
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Temperature Fluctuations: Slight warming after snowfall weakens snow cohesion.
This avalanche aligns with classic Western Disturbance-induced avalanche patterns, where fresh snowfall atop older compact layers destabilises the snowpack.
Transport Paralysed Across Kashmir
The avalanche struck as transport networks across Jammu & Kashmir collapsed under heavy snowfall, pushing the Valley into near isolation.
✈️ Air Travel: Srinagar Airport Shut Down
All 58 scheduled flights at Srinagar International Airport were cancelled, stranding passengers amid:
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Near-zero visibility
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Heavy snowfall on runways
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Icy taxiways and apron areas
Airport authorities confirmed that operations will remain suspended until weather improves and runways are cleared. Hundreds of passengers have been advised to stay in contact with airlines for rescheduling.
🚧 Roads: Jammu–Srinagar Highway Closed
The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway (NH-44), Kashmir’s lifeline, was completely shut following:
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Heavy snowfall near Navyug Tunnel, Qazigund
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Snow accumulation and shooting stones in Banihal sector
Authorities halted all vehicular movement citing extreme risk conditions. Several vehicles remain stranded on either side of the highway.
In addition:
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Interior roads across Kashmir are blocked
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Snow clearance operations are underway but hampered by continuous snowfall
🚆 Rail Services Disrupted
Train services on the Banihal–Baramulla rail corridor were suspended after snow covered tracks at multiple locations. Rail officials stated that services will resume only after complete snow clearance and safety inspections.
Srinagar Administration Issues Fresh Advisory
In response to the worsening situation, the Srinagar district administration issued a fresh public advisory, urging:
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Residents to stay indoors
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Tourists to avoid travel and outdoor activities
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Strict adherence to avalanche warnings
Authorities confirmed that avalanche alerts are active in 11 districts, covering both north and south Kashmir.
Region-Wise Situation Report
Sonamarg (Ganderbal)
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Avalanche hit resort area
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Structural damage reported
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Avalanche risk remains high
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Advisory: No travel, no outdoor movement
Srinagar City
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All flights cancelled
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City roads snow-covered and slippery
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Power disruptions in some areas
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Advisory: Stay indoors, stock essentials
Jammu–Srinagar Highway
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Closed at Banihal and Qazigund
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No estimated reopening time
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Advisory: Do not attempt travel
North Kashmir (Kupwara, Bandipora)
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Heavy snowfall continues
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High avalanche risk
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Advisory: Avoid slope areas and travel
South Kashmir (Anantnag, Shopian)
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Snow accumulation on roads
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Reduced visibility
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Advisory: High travel risk
Avalanche Warning Zones: High-Risk Areas Identified
Authorities have flagged multiple avalanche-prone zones, including:
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Sonamarg
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Gulmarg
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Pahalgam
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Gurez
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Higher reaches of Kupwara, Bandipora, and Shopian
Experts warn that secondary avalanches are common after an initial slide, especially during ongoing snowfall.
Tourist Safety: Clear Instructions Issued
With hundreds of tourists stranded in Sonamarg and Gulmarg, authorities have issued strict instructions:
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Remain inside hotels
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Avoid skiing, trekking, or slope activity
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Follow hotel and local administration advisories
Tour operators have been asked to inform clients of itinerary changes and ensure emergency coordination.
Impact on Daily Life and Supplies
Food & Essentials
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Supply chains disrupted due to highway closure
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Residents advised to ration essentials
Healthcare
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Emergency services on high alert
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Hospitals prepared for weather-related emergencies
Power & Heating
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Snow damage to lines in some areas
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Residents urged to conserve heating fuel
Environmental Perspective: Why These Events Are Intensifying
Environmental experts note that increasing variability in winter weather has amplified:
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Frequency of intense snowfall events
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Avalanche occurrences
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Prolonged transport shutdowns
While Western Disturbances are natural, changing climatic patterns are influencing their intensity and persistence, making preparedness more critical than ever.
Actionable Advice for Residents and Tourists
What You Should Do Now
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Monitor MeT Department & district bulletins
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Avoid all non-essential travel
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Keep emergency numbers accessible
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Stock medicines, food, and heating fuel
What Not to Do
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Do not attempt highway travel
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Do not venture near slopes or open fields
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Do not rely on unofficial travel updates
Conclusion: Kashmir on High Alert as Winter Tightens Its Grip
The Sonamarg avalanche has underscored the severity of the ongoing winter spell in Kashmir. While the absence of casualties offers relief, the event highlights the fragility of mountain ecosystems and infrastructure under extreme weather.
With transport shut, flights grounded, avalanche warnings active, and heavy snowfall continuing, authorities and residents face a critical period of vigilance. The coming days will test Kashmir’s disaster preparedness, resilience, and coordination, as the Valley waits for weather conditions to stabilise.
Until then, caution remains the strongest defence.
