Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Major General Athar Abbas on Saturday said the Pakistan Army was facing difficulties in Gyari rescue operation due to inclement weather, however, rescue operation was underway round-the-clock to dig out 139 military personnel and civilians under tones of snow.
Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Major General Ashfaq Nadeem flanked by the ISPR DG briefed the media about the magnitude of the incident and military rescue operations. He said as many as 400 troops and some 60 civilians, six German and three Swiss experts were currently taking part in rescue and search operation with temperature plummeting to minus 15 degree centigrade.
He said that the rescue operation would intensify as soon as the weather turned considerably better.
He said Pakistan Air force (PAF) was also making all out efforts for the rescue of Pakistan Army soldiers trapped in the avalanche.
He said assistance was also sought from international organizations and friendly countries, adding that teams from Germany, Switzerland and China had reached the area.
The DGMO said an American team had also reached Pakistan and it would begin work after the improvement of weather conditions. Gen Nadeem said a team from Norway would also reach the area soon. To a question, he said 139 people, including soldiers and civilians, were present in the Battalion headquarters at the time of the incident.
Gen Nadeem said that the magnitude of the tragedy was so big that local rescue facilities in the region were not enough while movement of heavy equipments was also very difficult. He said that that some small avalanches had also been hitting the area.
