SONMARG: A massive avalanche struck Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir today, sending snow cascading down the mountains at a terrifying speed. The visuals of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing a large volume of snow rushing down while people in the vicinity ran for safety.
Despite the intensity of the avalanche, officials have confirmed that there were no casualties.
Recent Avalanche in Uttarakhand
This incident comes just weeks after a major avalanche hit Mana village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. In that disaster, 55 workers were trapped under the snow. While 47 of them were rescued, eight tragically lost their lives.
How Avalanches Occur in the Himalayas
Every winter, the Himalayan mountain ranges experience frequent avalanches as large snow slabs break off and slide downhill. These avalanches can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour within just five seconds, releasing an estimated 2.3 lakh cubic meters of snow—enough to cover 20 football fields with three meters of snow.
This powerful natural phenomenon, known as an avalanche, poses a significant risk in high-altitude regions, often disrupting life and endangering those in the area.
