Weather claims 15 lives

At least 15 persons including a jawan of Scouts forces were killed and several others injured as a result of an avalanche and torrential rains in Chitral and its surrounding areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Most of the deaths occurred in Chitral although exact toll is still uncertain. Many of the areas are blocked as a result of heavy snow, rains, and landslides.

According to Chitral District Nazim Maghfirat Shah, five houses and a mosque were overrun by an avalanche in village Sarshal of Karim Abad late on Saturday evening. He said that so far nine dead bodies had been recovered, along with a dozen injured. He said that the injured people were being given medical aid.

He also confirmed that a jawan was killed and six others injured because of sliding over a scouts forces post at Dameen.

Maghfirat Shah said that relief and rescue activities couldn’t take place in affected areas due to the bad weather. “Almost all roads are blocked and other communication links are also affected,” he remarked, adding that “even inside Chitral city no one can come out of their house due to the snow and bad weather.”

Answering a question, the District Nazim said that the local administration lacks the heavy machinery essential for clearing snow from. For these, he called upon Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to direct the clearance of roads and restoration of communication links in the area. He said that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had arranged a helicopter, but due to bad weather it was still in Peshawar. He said that all roads in the area are closed and that so far no relief goods have reached Sarshal.

The district nazim said that on the issuance of an alert by the met office and the NDMA, the majority of the population of Sarshal have already abandoned their homes and shifted to other places. However, a few families remain due to a lack of options.

Meanwhile, two brothers died and their mother was injured when the roof of their mud house fell in village Shah Muqeem in Dera Ismael Khan.

Two teenage girls died due to a roof collapse in village Bazar Zakhakhel in Khyber Agency and one person died when a house collapsed in Bajaur Agency.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the avalanche in Chitral.

He has directed all relevant federal and provincial authorities to reach the site immediately and undertake rescue and relief work, said a press release of the PM Office media wing.

The Prime Minister also directed National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to coordinate the rescue efforts and arrange the necessary medical care, food and shelter required for the affectees.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has started rescue operations for the avalanche victims in Shershal UC Karimabad.

An avalanche hit Shershal UC Karimabad near Garam Chashma around 2:30 am. PDMA KP dispatched a rescue party comprising police and scouts for rescue and relief.

Those found injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital Garam Chashma.

NDMA is closely monitoring the rescue efforts and a helicopter with relief items will be dispatched to the area on the improvement of weather, an official said.

“NDMA has activated NEOC since morning for coordinating rescue efforts and is also coordinating for the provision of helicopter service for rescue and relief” he added.

NDMA, PDMAKP, SDMA are jointly working for the rescue operation.

NDMA has already geared up its coordination with the NHA and asked it to mobilise its machinery on all critical sections for road clearance.