At least nine people were killed after an avalanche struck a house in northwest Pakistan on Friday, as heavy snowfall hit several parts of the country, leaving hundreds stranded, officials and local media reported.
The avalanche struck in Domail town of Chitral district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing five men and four women, local broadcaster Geo News reported, citing the district administration.
A child was also injured in the incident.
Hundreds of people were stranded in northwestern and southwestern Pakistan due to road closures caused by heavy snowfall.
Rescuers evacuated dozens of stranded residents to safety as heavy snowfall blanketed several mountainous districts, blocked roads and cut off villages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit Baltistan and Azad Kashmir on Friday.
Rescue 1122 teams backed by Army soldiers were operating in different areas of Tirah Valley in District Khyber and shifted over 40 people, including women and children, to safe locations. The evacuees were provided with food, warm clothes and bedding, according to Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Faizi.
Around 55 people, who had been stranded in 20 vehicles in Sandana area, were rescued. Rescue 1122 teams from Peshawar, Swabi and Nowshera participated in rescue operations, which continued despite difficulties due to slippery roads and heavy snowfall.
“People are stranded at various places due to heavy snowfall,” KP government spokesman Shafi Jan said in a statement. “Contact with some areas is not possible due to the suspension of mobile phone signals and road closures, however, rescue operations are ongoing.”
Separately, several people were stranded in four vehicles in Bahrain area of District. “As soon as the information was received, the rescue disaster and medical teams immediately reached the scene,” the rescue service said. “The rescue personnel, taking professional action, safely shifted all the people to a safe place and also safely recovered the stranded vehicles.”
The process of clearing snow from the Malam Jabba Road, Kalam and other areas was being carried out, according to local authorities. Heavy snowfall has disrupted traffic on several roads in South Waziristan’s Ladha town as well.
Most parts of Sindh and Punjab also received heavy rains which added more chill to the already cold weather.
According to Metrological Department, intermittent rain in Lahore continued which added chill to the weather while temperature was recorded at 11 degree Celsius.
Rain in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Sialkot and surrounding areas also continued. Intermittent rain continued in twin cities and the intensity of cold has increased. According to the Meteorological Department, intermittent rain will continue throughout the day today as well.
Heavy snowfall added cold in northern areas of Balochistan as Ziarat dropped to minus 15 degrees Celsius while Quetta minus 11, Qalat minus 12 degrees Celsius record and below freezing point recorded in Nathiagali and Thandiani and Murree.
On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, food items are being distributed among tourists present in Murree after heavy snowfall.
On the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister, Provincial Minister for Communications Malik Sohaib Ahmed Bharath is present in Murree.
The Provincial Minister said all arrangements for removing snow from the highways and sprinkling salt are active in Murree and highway machinery is present on the main highways of Murree to remove snow.
He said about 13 Tourist Facilitation Centers are fully active and all the staff of the district administration including the highway are on alert.
He said traffic police are also patrolling the highways of Murree.
The district administration, police and emergency services on Friday launched a large-scale rescue operation in Murree as heavy snowfall and a severe snowstorm left more than 5,000 tourist vehicles stranded in the hill station.
Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi and District Police Officer (DPO) Dr Muhammad Raza Tanveer Sipra were present in the field to supervise the operation, which focused on clearing internal roads and ensuring the safe evacuation of stranded tourists.
Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) issued a traffic update for tourists heading towards Murree, advising them to postpone travel due to snowfall.
An ITP official told APP on Monday that all entry routes leading to Murree have been closed following overnight snowfall. He said diversions have been put in place on both Murree-bound routes, and traffic is being turned back to ensure public safety.