Sonamarg in Kashmir hit by massive avalanche: CCTV footage shows scary views; travel disrupted

It was late Tuesday night and people were sleeping when a massive avalanche hit the Himalayan valley of Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The visuals captured in CCTV cameras look nothing less than a doomsday. The video shows a powerful sea of snow avalanche thundering down the slopes and burying homes and vehicles below in deep snow. But the good news is despite having a potential to destroy, local authorities confirmed early that no casualties or injuries were reported.The avalanche hit the town around 10:12 PM at night. It happened in the Sarbal region which is a locality with residential homes and hotels. One CCTV camera footage which has gone viral, shows a huge wall of snow sloping down from the mountain, sweeping houses and hotels before covering under thick blankets of white. It’s a chilling video that took social media by storm. The video we see is a stark reminder of the power of nature in the high Himalayas. Avalanche risksThis is not the only place hit by an avalanche. The whole Kashmir Valley is under the spell of snow attracting tourists from all over the country. However, the meteorological reports had warned authorities and the tourists about the high-intensity avalanches in upper regions of the valley. The Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority along with meteorological offices issued a danger warning, especially in snow prone high-altitude regions such as Sonamarg and Gulmarg, among others. Though it was late in the night, emergency teams and disaster response officials were quick to inspect the avalanche-affected zone. They were checking for survivors and risks of another snow slide. But miraculously, no one was hurt as residents and tourists were indoors at the time of the slide. Rescue crews remain stationed in and around Sonamarg.Because of heavy snowfall, the area is facing travel disruptions. There is a temporary closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which is a major road connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India. All flights at Srinagar International Airport also remain cancelled, leaving many tourists and commuters waiting as snow clears.Now the tourists in Kashmir are facing unexpected and unknown delays. Weather forecasts have predicted more snowfall. Residents and travellers have been asked to avoid high-risk slopes and be updated from disaster management and meteorological departments.