A huge avalanche hit the popular tourist site of Sonamarg in the Ganderbal region of Jammu and Kashmir on the night of Tuesday, January 27, 2026. That natural disaster caught on CCTV sent shockwaves through the region but fortunately did not result in loss of life.
Late-Night Panic in Ganderbal
The high-intensity avalanche struck the central Kashmir resort at about 10:12 PM on Tuesday. Officials on the ground said the snow slide had entered from the upper reaches and penetrated through with sufficient force to reach the cluster of buildings and hotels in the Sonamarg area. CCTV video released by authorities initially shows a dense wall of white snow rushing quickly through the streets and partially burying buildings in its path.
VIDEO | An avalanche hit Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night, but there was no loss of life, officials said.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 27, 2026
They said the avalanche hit Sonamarg resort in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district at 10.12 pm on Tuesday.
The massive avalanche was caught… pic.twitter.com/Dw5Dl9FCDp
Zero Casualties Reported
Ganderbal district officials confirmed Wednesday morning that no deaths or injuries had been reported despite the dramatic nature of the event in the area. Most residents and tourists were indoors, by late evening and with the freezing temperature, a situation that would have prevented tragedy. Rescue teams were on standby right away, and a full assessment of damage to buildings is underway.
Heavy snow and high-risk warnings
The avalanche comes after the Kashmir Valley experienced 48 hours of medium-to-heavy snow. However, high-altitude areas have witnessed several feet of recent snow that has closed most arterial roads, including Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory Disaster Management Authority (JKUTDMA) had issued the previous avalanche warning of "High-Danger" to Ganderbal and five other districts. Authorities have reiterated their advice for locals and tourists to stay away from avalanche-prone slopes and higher reaches until it settles.
