Snow avalanche hits vehicles on Sgr-Leh highway near Sonamarg

All occupants, mostly tourists, rescued safely: officials

Ganderbal: At least ten persons onboard in two vehicles have been evacuated safely after an avalanche struck Hung area of Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
An official said that a snow avalanche struck Hung area this afternoon and two vehicles got buried under it in which ten persons were onboard.
Upon receiving the report, SDPO Kangan, Dr. Muzaffar Jan, Police, SDRF and the Primary Health Center in Sonamarg swiftly mobilized a team of medical staff to conduct rescue operations, the officials said.
Police officials confirmed that all ten individuals, including drivers, trapped in both vehicles were safely evacuated while two of them have been shifted to the hospital for further treatment.
Tehsildar Gund and DSP Traffic also visited the spot to assess the situation.
SDM Kangan, after inspecting the area, announced that vehicular movement on the Sonmarg road would be restricted until March 31.
However, vehicles can still access Sonmarg via Sonmarg Z-Morh Tunnel.
He urged tourists and locals to avoid traveling on the Sonmarg road at night due to the risk of avalanches in certain areas
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal Sandeep Gupta also confirmed that the two vehicles that got buried under the snow avalanche have been evacuated safely and added that no loss of life or injury was reported in the incident.