9 dead as avalanche hits house in KP’s lower Chitral

At least nine people were killed and a child injured after an avalanche hit a house in the remote Damel area of ​​Lower Chitral in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa following heavy snowfall, officials said on Friday.

Lower Chitral Deputy Commissioner Rao Hashim Azeem confirmed the toll to The Express PK Press Club, adding that all the bodies buried under the rubble have been found. He said the injured child was rescued alive and was being shifted to Drosh for medical treatment.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the incident occurred in Sareegal village under the jurisdiction of PP Damil and PS Arandu when a huge snowslide trapped 10 members of the same family under the debris.

He said residents immediately launched rescue operations and initially recovered four bodies from the rubble. Search and rescue operations continued under difficult conditions, with police present at the scene to assist the affected family and coordinate relief efforts.

Faizi said the victims were identified as a man, his wife and seven of their children, including three daughters and two sons.

He added that a rescue operation was carried out with the participation of Pakistan Army, Chitral Scouts, Chitral Levies and Chitral Police, with local volunteers playing a key role despite the difficult weather conditions and terrain.

Lower Chitral district police officer Riffatullah Khan said snowfall was continuous at the time of the incident and Chitral police were working to clear the approach routes. He added that along with the police, the Pakistan Army and the Frontier Corps participated in the relief efforts, rescuing the injured and recovering the bodies, thereby completing the operation.

According to the DPO, a police alert was issued due to the continued severe weather conditions, and officers were ordered to remain on duty 24 hours a day until the situation improves.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives caused by the avalanche.

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Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took cognizance of the avalanche incident in Chitral and ordered provision of immediate relief and assistance to the affected families.

He ordered relevant authorities to speed up rescue and relief operations and requested that additional machines and personnel be deployed to restore roads in snow-affected areas.

Terming the incident extremely tragic, CM Afridi expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the families of the deceased. He further ordered that the injured receive the best possible medical care.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed deep sadness over the death of nine people after an avalanche hit a house in Domel area of ​​Chitral, while conveying sincere condolences to the bereaved families and praying for those who lost their lives in the incident.

Terming the incident extremely tragic, the governor said the provincial government shares the grief of the affected families.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the CM on Information Shafi Jan described the incident and expressed deep sadness over the loss of lives and said heavy snowfall was continuing in the mountainous areas since the previous day. He added that the provincial government was fully mobilized to respond to the situation.

Shafi Jan said Rescue 1122, district administration, civil defense and other relevant departments were working vigorously, adding that the provincial government shared the grief of the bereaved families. He also prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased.