CHITRAL: A tragic landslide in the Srigal Damil Arandu area of Chitral claimed the lives of nine people, including women and children, during a period of heavy snowfall.
According to local sources, ten members of the same family were buried under the debris when an avalanche struck the house of Bacha, son of Gul Muhammad.
Residents quickly initiated rescue operations, managing to recover the bodies of nine individuals from the wreckage. Fortunately, a girl was rescued alive. Among the deceased, there are five women and four men.
Local residents have reported that the ongoing heavy snowfall and cold weather are obstructing the rescue efforts. Authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution during this severe weather.
Chitral Scouts, police personnel, and local residents carried out a timely and joint rescue operation, as a result of which all the bodies were recovered, while a small child of the family was miraculously pulled out alive.
In the wake of heavy snowfall and rain related incident Traffic affected on the Karakoram Highway, Hazara Motorway, and other northern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Traffic has been temporarily suspended from Ichhariyan and Kispul Battagram on the Hazara Motorway, which has affected transportation.
On this occasion, SP Hazara Motorway Sajjad Bhatti said that police and rescue teams are on full alert to deal with any emergency and are present on the spot and performing their responsibilities.
Passengers have been asked to avoid unnecessary travel, take precautionary measures, and contact the 130 helpline to stay informed about the latest road conditions. The safety of citizens is the top priority of the administration in this beautiful but dangerous season of snowfall.
In view of the heavy snowfall, Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saleem, along with a police youth, visited Chittar Chowki in Battagram in detail. The purpose of this visit was to ensure the condition of the roads, movement of vehicles, and safety of passengers, so that no vehicle gets stuck in the snow and no passenger faces any kind of inconvenience or trouble.
Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saleem, while present at the spot, continuously monitored the highway, took immediate steps to maintain traffic flow, and kept the police and volunteer teams active at all times to deal with emergencies. He remained present at the spot the whole night, guided the people, and directly supervised the administrative affairs, proving that public service, sense of duty, and responsible leadership are the hallmarks of real governance.
Heavy snowfall continues in tourist areas, Nathiagali, Ayubia, Janspur, and Changla Gali, in the grip of snow. Two feet of snowfall recorded in Nathiagali, up to 3 feet in Ayubia, Galiyat Development Authority staff on high alert, holidays cancelled, Director General Galiyat Development Authority Muhammad Fawad said that steps are being taken to open the roads.
Work of removing snow in Galiyat towns with heavy machinery continues; Galiyat roads will be restored for traffic soon. He said that tourists should take precautionary measures, use of snow chains is mandatory, Galiyat Development Authority Muhammad.
Likeise Shangal, Alpuri, Buner, Besham, and Upper Dir received snowfall after 20 years, where several roads were blocked due to snowfall. Almost every district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Landi Kotal and Khyber, Mohmand,and Bajaur, received snowfall.
