Avalanche Alert: Uttarakhand, Sonamarg hit as snow strands tourists in Manali

Fresh snowfall across the western Himalayan region has triggered avalanche warnings in several high-altitude areas of Uttarakhand , while an avalanche struck the Sonamarg tourist resort in Jammu and Kashmir late Tuesday night without causing any casualties. The adverse weather has also left many tourists stranded in parts of Manali, prompting authorities to advise against travel to snow-bound destinations for the time being.

In Uttarakhand, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) issued an alert for all districts after the second spell of snowfall within a week raised the risk of avalanches in higher reaches, including Badrinath and Kedarnath . According to the Chandigarh-based Defence Geo-Informatics Research Establishment (DGRE), snowfall and avalanches are likely in various high-altitude areas between January 27 and 28 .

Uttarkashi, Chamoli and Rudraprayag have been placed in the ‘orange’ category , indicating deep and unstable snow cover with a high likelihood of natural avalanches , while Pithoragarh is in the ‘yellow’ category , where small avalanches may occur in isolated areas.

Intermittent snowfall has been reported in Badrinath, Kedarnath, Uttarkashi, Auli and Munsiyari , while lower areas, including Dehradun , recorded light to moderate rainfall . Dehradun temperatures are hovering between 5°C minimum and 18°C maximum , with foggy and overcast conditions leading to school closures.

Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, an avalanche hit Sonamarg in Ganderbal district at around 10.12 pm , with CCTV footage showing snow engulfing parts of the resort area. Officials confirmed no loss of life . Authorities had earlier warned of a high-intensity avalanche amid moderate to heavy snowfall across the Kashmir Valley.

Experts noted that Sonamarg’s geography makes it particularly vulnerable . Situated at about 2,800 metres above sea level, it lies in a narrow valley along the Sindh river, surrounded by steep, snow-laden slopes of the Zojila range. Its location along the Srinagar-Leh highway near Zojila Pass exposes it to frequent snowfall and winter disruptions. Current temperatures are around –5°C , dropping to as low as –11°C at night .

In Himachal Pradesh, heavy snowfall around Manali disrupted road connectivity, leaving several tourists stranded. Temperatures in Manali are around –4°C , with higher-altitude regions dropping further. Snow-covered roads and icy conditions have restricted movement across the region.

Given the prevailing conditions, authorities in Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and Himachal Pradesh have advised tourists to avoid non-essential travel to high-altitude destinations until conditions improve. Travellers have been urged to follow official advisories, avoid venturing onto snow-covered slopes, and stay updated with weather forecasts.