SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir

A massive avalanche struck the tourist destination of Sonamarg in Indian-administered Kashmir late Tuesday night, with no loss of life or major damage reported, officials said Thursday.

The avalanche, captured on CCTV footage, hit Sonamarg -- also known as the Meadow of Gold -- in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district at around 10.12 pm (1642GMT) on Tuesday. Snow and debris were seen engulfing several structures in the area.

Officials quoted by New Delhi-based Press Trust of India, said there were no casualties and no significant damage to property.

Authorities had issued a warning on Monday, alerting residents and visitors of the possibility of high-intensity avalanches in the district as heavy snowfall continued across the region.

The Srinagar-Jammu Highway, an all weather road-link connecting the region to northern India, was opened Wednesday after it was closed due to adverse weather conditions, traffic officials said.

Deadly avalanches in the Indian Himalayas have killed more than 120 people since 2021.

In February 2024, one Russian skier was killed and six others were rescued after being caught in an avalanche in Gulmarg, another popular tourist destination in the region.

Parts of the Jammu and Kashmir region experienced a fresh spell of snow and rains since early Monday that continued until late Tuesday night.

However, the region saw improvement in weather conditions starting Wednesday, which is forecast to continue until the end of this month before the return of precipitation expected in February.