Massive Avalanche Strikes Sonmarg's Sarbal Area in Jammu & Kashmir
A terrifying avalanche swept through the Sarbal area of Sonmarg in Jammu & Kashmir on Tuesday night, with chilling video footage capturing the moment massive volumes of snow rushed towards hotels and residential buildings. The incident occurred at precisely 10:12 PM, sending shockwaves through the region already grappling with extreme winter conditions.
Viral Video Shows Terrifying Moment of Impact
A video that has since gone viral on social media platforms shows the dramatic moment when the avalanche descended upon the area. The footage reveals enormous quantities of snow cascading down the mountainside toward structures below, highlighting the sheer power and suddenness of the natural disaster. Despite the alarming visuals, officials have confirmed there were no reports of injuries or fatalities from the incident.
Avalanche Warnings Issued Across Multiple Districts
The Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) had previously issued avalanche warnings across 11 districts in the region. These included:
- High-danger warning for areas above 2,000 metres in Ganderbal district
- Medium-danger warning for areas above 2,000 metres in multiple districts including Anantnag, Bandipora, Baramulla, Kulgam, Kupwara, Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Rajouri, and Ramban
The area had already been placed under a high-intensity avalanche warning on Monday following continuous snowfall that blanketed the valley.
Travel Disruptions and Rescue Operations
Heavy snowfall across Kashmir on Tuesday caused significant travel disruptions throughout the region. The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed to traffic, and all flights at Srinagar airport were cancelled, leaving numerous tourists stranded in the area.
In a separate but related development, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) successfully rescued 60 people who had been stranded at the Chattergala Pass along the Bhaderwah-Chamba Road in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district. The group included 40 Army personnel who had been trapped under 5-6 feet of snow following heavy snowfall on January 23. The BRO's clearance operation lasted nearly 40 hours to reach and extract all individuals safely.
Recent Tragic Incident in the Same Region
This avalanche incident follows a tragic event last week in the same general area where 10 Army soldiers lost their lives and 11 others were injured. Their bulletproof vehicle skidded off the road and fell into a gorge at Khanni Top, located at an altitude of 9,000 feet along the Bhaderwah-Chamba Road.
The combination of extreme weather conditions, avalanche threats, and challenging terrain continues to pose significant challenges for residents, travelers, and emergency response teams in Jammu & Kashmir during the winter season.
