It’s Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and if you’re anywhere near Sonamarg, you’ve likely seen the footage. A massive wall of white just wiped out the silence of the night.
At exactly 10:12 PM on Tuesday, a high-intensity avalanche roared through the Sarbal area. The thing is, we’ve seen this before, but the CCTV footage of snow literally swallowing houses and hotels in seconds is something else. Or nothing.
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The Sonamarg Slide: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the valley is buried under about 4 feet of fresh snow. Here’s the ground reality from the disaster teams:
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The Miracle Count: Despite the scale—houses buried, vehicles tossed—officials are confirming zero casualties so far. The thing is, a high-intensity warning had been active since Monday. People stayed inside. That saved them. Those too.
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The “Blackout” at the Airport: Yesterday (Tuesday) was a total wash. All 58 flights at Srinagar Airport were axed. But and here’s the kicker—as of 9:25 AM this morning, the first flight finally landed. The runway is clear, but the haze is thick. Expect delays. Let’s be real—if you’re a tourist stuck there, you’re finally seeing a way out. Or nothing.
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NH-44 is Still a Mess: While the planes are flying, the road is a different story. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is still mostly shut. Snow at the Navyug and Banihal tunnels has made it a skating rink. They’re only letting a few light vehicles (LMVs) crawl through from Qazigund. The thing is, if you’re in a truck, you’re sitting tight.
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The Railway Rescue: Since the roads are toast, Northern Railways ran a special train between Katra and Srinagar today at 8:10 AM. It was packed—over 100% occupancy. It’s an ongoing situation where the tracks are the only reliable heartbeat left in the valley. Those too.
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Winter Lockdown Tracker (Jan 28, 2026)
| Location/Service | Current Status | Why? |
| Sonamarg (Sarbal) | Avalanche Site | Massive slide at 10:12 PM; no lives lost. |
| Srinagar Airport | Partially Operational | First flight landed at 9:25 AM today. |
| NH-44 (Highway) | Closed / Restricted | Slippery at Banihal; only LMVs allowed. |
| Banihal-Srinagar Rail | Operational | Special trains running to clear tourist rush. |
| Avalanche Warning | 11 Districts | High-danger warning for Ganderbal (above 2000m). |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The Met department says the worst of this “Western Disturbance” has passed, but another wet spell is hitting on February 1. The thing is, the fresh snow on top of the old, frozen layers is a “classic avalanche scenario.” It’s basically a ticking time bomb on every steep slope. Those too.
One side comment—the government actually suspended five officials today for “dereliction of duty” during snow clearance. It’s an ongoing situation where the administration is feeling the heat, even in sub-zero temperatures. Or nothing.
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End…
