J&K: 'Low Intensity' Avalanche Hits Ganderbal District, No Casualty Reported

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir SDMA said an avalanche with a 'low danger' level was likely to occur above 2,000 metres over Anantnag, Kulgam and Rajouri districts in the next 24 hours.

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New Delhi: A low-intensity avalanche hit the Sarbal area in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. However no casualties were reported, news agency ANI reported.

#WATCH | J&K: A low-intensity avalanche has hit the Sarbal area in Ganderbal. No casualties were reported.

(Video Source: Locals) https://t.co/11wu9Bv88W pic.twitter.com/AlW0a9eAQk

— ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2023

A workshop of Megha Engineering And Infrastructure Limited got damaged after the avalanche hit the Sarbal area. According to officials, the workshop has got partially damaged, however, there has been no loss of life or injury reported in the incident.

Additional district development commissioner Ganderbal, Mushtaq Ahmad said, "We have already shifted some labourers from there and the remaining will also be shifted.”

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said an avalanche with a 'low danger' level was likely to occur above 2,000 metres over Anantnag, Kulgam and Rajouri districts in the next 24 hours.

The SDMA issued a 'high danger' avalanche warning for Kupwara district of north Kashmir and a 'medium danger' warning for Bandipora, Baramulla, Doda, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban and Reasi districts, news agency PTI reported.

"Avalanche with high danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres of Kupwara district in the next 24 hours. Avalanche with medium danger level is likely to occur above 2,000 metres over Bandipora, Baramulla, Doda, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban and Reasi districts in the next 24 hours," PTI quoted SDMA officials as saying.

Meanwhile, an avalanche hit a village in Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district earlier in the day, but there was no loss of life or damage to property, officials said. An avalanche warning has been issued for 12 districts, including Bandipora after moderate to heavy snowfall a day before, they added.

The avalanche hit Jurniyal village of Gurez this afternoon but there was no damage, the State Disaster Management Authority officials further said.

Earlier on Thursday, two labourers were killed after an avalanche hit Sonamarg in Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, PTI reported.

The avalanche hit the Sarbal area close to Nilgrath, where Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) was working on the Zojila Tunnel.

The deceased were identified as Sandeep Singh and Bal Krishna, both residents of Kishtwar. The Army and police personnel launched a rescue operation during which they retrieved the two bodies, officials said.

The bodies have been shifted to Primary Health Centre in Sonamarg for medical and legal formalities, the officials further added.

(With inputs from Asif Qureshi)