A significant avalanche struck the remote Warwan valley located in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district on Wednesday morning, according to local authorities. The Station House Officer (SHO) of Warwan, Zaheer Iqbal, confirmed that no injuries or damage to property were reported following the incident.
Authorities Issue Safety Advisory
In response to the event, police have advised residents to stay away from areas prone to avalanches as severe weather conditions continue to affect the region. This warning comes amid ongoing concerns about safety in mountainous terrains during winter months.
Previous Avalanche in Sonamarg
The Warwan valley incident occurred just one day after a high-intensity avalanche hit the Sonamarg area in central Kashmir. That event created snow dust that engulfed houses and vehicles, though initial assessments suggested minimal actual impact.
Nazir Ahmad Sheikh, a hotelier at Sonamarg Inn whose CCTV footage captured the snow storm on Tuesday evening, described the phenomenon as routine for the area. "I didn't panic. Avalanches like this occur here every year," he stated.
Sheikh explained that the avalanche actually struck approximately half a kilometer from Sonamarg village, ending in the Sindh River. The powerful winds generated by the avalanche lifted soft snow and blew it across the village, creating the visual impression that the avalanche had directly hit the populated area containing hotels, restaurants, and shops.
Expert Analysis of the Phenomenon
Dr. Sunil Dhar, Head of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the Central University of Jammu, supported this assessment. "Given the videos I saw, it appeared to be a cloud of snow dust. Had it been a full avalanche, these buildings there would have got damaged," he noted.
Professor Dhar elaborated on the scientific mechanism: "When an avalanche occurs, air escapes from the snow slab leading to powerful gusts of wind. This trapped air carries fine snow particles forming a snow cloud."
Dr. Irfan Rashid from the Department of Geoinformatics at the University of Kashmir explained that avalanches typically get triggered due to snowfall, particularly in areas with specific topographical features. "Topography, steep slopes with less vegetation, are apt sites for the trigger and Sonamarg fits in it perfectly," he said.
Dr. Rashid added a crucial factor: "What adds fuel to fire is high ambient temperatures, heat in the system that not only aids in snowmelt but lubricates the soil-snow interface triggering snow avalanche."
Improved Infrastructure and Connectivity
Sonamarg, which historically remained cut off during winter months, has maintained accessibility throughout this season following the inauguration of the Z-Morh (Sonamarg) Tunnel on January 13, 2025. This engineering achievement provides all-weather road access by bypassing avalanche-prone stretches of the old route.
The Z-Morh Tunnel spans 6.5 kilometers as a two-lane road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg. It replaces a Z-shaped stretch of road that was particularly vulnerable to avalanches and frequently blocked for extended periods during winter.
Local Response and Concerns
Sheikh mentioned that local residents are accustomed to sudden weather changes in the area and generally don't panic during such events. However, he expressed concern about AI-generated videos circulating online depicting the incident.
"Such videos are not good as tourists have started returning to the resort and AI generated videos are bound to create panic," Sheikh cautioned, highlighting how misinformation could negatively impact the region's tourism recovery.
Historical Context of Avalanches in Sonamarg
Over the last three years, the Sonamarg area has experienced several avalanche incidents during winter seasons:
- January 12, 2023: A massive snow avalanche killed two laborers
- January 14, 2023: Another avalanche transported approximately 50,000 cubic meters of snow
- February 2024: A large avalanche was captured on camera and widely shared
- March 5, 2025: A massive avalanche struck Sonamarg without causing damage
According to Jammu and Kashmir Police, Tuesday night's avalanche occurred at approximately 10:15 PM near the new truck yard in Sonamarg. A police statement confirmed: "Fortunately, the impact was minimal and no loss of life or property has been reported."
Official Safety Recommendations
A senior police official emphasized the ongoing risks: "Locals, tourists, and transporters are advised to strictly avoid visiting or halting in avalanche-prone areas. The chances of avalanches remain very high, and unnecessary movement in vulnerable zones can pose serious risks."
The official advisory underscores the importance of caution during winter months in mountainous regions, particularly as climate patterns continue to evolve and affect weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir.
