Death toll rises to 75 as extreme weather wreaks havoc across Pakistan

[ghazi52]

Death toll rises to 75 as extreme weather wreaks havoc across

January 14, 2020

A woman walks in heavy snow in Quetta on Jan 13. — AFP
The death toll from snowfall and rain-related incidents in Pakistan over the last three days rose to 75 while the number of injured is estimated to be 64, officials said on Tuesday.

With rain and snowfall continuing in many parts of the country, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it is expecting an increase in the death and injury tolls.

The authority said rains in Balochistan had claimed 15 lives and injured 11 others while at least 55 deaths and 12 injured had been reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. In Neelam valley alone, 19 people died in an avalanche while 10 others were still missing. NDMA said four injured had been rescued from Neelum while work was currently underway to rescue the remaining people.

Spokesperson for Balochistan government, Liaquat Shahwani, said 20 people had lost their lives in the province in snowfall-related incidents. He added that Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan was personally overseeing the relief work being conducted in the province.

"We are doing everything we can within the resources available to us," Shawani said while adding that work is being done to restore access to far-flung areas of Balochistan.

“Most of those who died were women and children,” said Mohammad Younus, an official with the provincial disaster management authority, adding that hundreds remained stranded.

Major thoroughfares in Balochistan, including Bolan Road, Khanozai Road and Quetta-Chaman Road have been closed for the time being, the statement said, adding that the most snowfall recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was at Lowari Approach Road at a whopping 23 inches.

Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country tomorrow, with very cold in upper parts and north Balochistan, said the authority in its weekly outlook. Cloudy weather with light rain and snowfall over hills is expected in Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir.

On Monday, avalanches, landslides and other rain-related incidents claimed at least 21 lives and left scores of others injured as most parts of the country remained in the grip of a strong westerly weather system that entered Balochistan in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Eleven of the nearly two dozen deaths were reported from Kashmir, seven from Punjab and three from Balochistan. Meanwhile, Punjab had recorded 14 deaths in rain-related incidents on Sunday.

In Chitral, the Lowai Top Road is still blocked due to continuous heavy snow fall, due to which traffic going to and from the area has reverted back.

Relief, Disaster and Civil Defence Secretary Syed Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri told Dawn that heavy snowfall and rains had blocked several arteries in high altitude areas.

"Neelum Valley Road, Leepa Valley Road, Chikar-Bagh Road, Bagh-Lasdana Road, Mehmood Galli-Abbaspur Road and Tain Dhalkot Road were all closed for traffic," he said.

The official advised people, particularly tourists, to avoid unnecessary travel in snowbound and landslide-prone areas during the prevailing weather conditions.

 

[ghazi52]

In pictures:
Extreme weather hits various parts of Pakistan

Snow-covered mountains look over the streets of Shangla. — Umar Bacha

As schools remain shut, children play in the snow in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

Cashing in on the weather shopkeepers use creative methods of advertising the fruit they are offering. — Umar Bacha

A fruit vendor advertises his merchandise in the snow in Shangla. — Umar Bacha

A think layer of snow covers a rooftop in Swat. — Murad Ali Khan

Days of snow accumulated over roofs and treetops in Swat. — Murad Ali Khan

....Tyre-tracks in the snow. — Murad Ali Khan

Men try to push a car out of a thick layer of snow in Swat. — Murad Ali Khan

A view of residential area after a snowfall in Mariabad, Quetta. — Reuters

A boy clears a snow-covered roof of his family house after a heavy snowfall in Neelum Valley near the line of control. — Reuters

Vehicles are seen parked along the road, leading to the area with a heavy snowfall, on the outskirts of Quetta. — Reuters

Local residents remove debris of a collapsed house following heavy snowfall that triggered an avalanche in Neelum Valley — AFP

Local travellers wait to clear the main highway following heavy snowfall in Khanozai area some 75 kms in northeast of Quetta. — AFP

Injured avalanche victims arrive in an army helicopter following heavy snowfall in Neelum Valley. — AFP

 

[Vikki]

Pakistan is too cold in winter and too hot in summer...just like north India...many times we take many things for granted...but now when I look at weather across the world,I consider myself very lucky to be residing on Deccan plateau..except for 2 months of summer,the weather across the year is moderate..not hot....not cold ..not humid.

 

[ghazi52]

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[ghazi52]

Death toll in avalanches rises to over 100

MIRPUR/QUETTA, GILGIT: The tally of those killed in avalanches in different parts of the country rose to over 100 on Tuesday.

In Neelam Valley and the other upper parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) over 69 people were killed, with the state government expecting a rise in casualties. The Neelam Valley was particularly hard hit, with many people left cut off from help. While the area is prone to weather disasters, the current toll is one of the deadliest in recent history. The state government has also dispatched utilities for burial of bodies and food items for over 100 affected families with the assistance of Pakistan Army. Relief and rescue operation is in progress in the affected areas. According to the government, 69 people were killed in Neelam valley alone, media reports say. “The AJK government is fully engaged in rescue, relief and rehabilitation process with the assistance of Pakistan Army in the affected areas, especially in the worst calamity-hit Neelam valley in Muzaffarabad division, said AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan while chairing a high level meeting in Muzaffarabad.

At least 56 houses were totally damaged after coming under the snow avalanches. Haider directed the authorities for swift shifting of the homeless people to safer places. The AJK government, he said, was utilising all resources to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation operation. He directed all the state-run functionaries to ensure their active participation in the relief work for the rehabilitation of affected families in the minimum possible time. The prime minister also directed the SDMA and State Highways department to launch the rescue and relief works by restoring traffic on all snow-clad highways and link roads in the Neelam valley.

The AJK Minister for the Disaster Management Authority, Ahmad Raza Qadri, said a state of emergency had been declared for the affected areas on Tuesday morning. "Rescuers are facing difficulties in reaching the affected villages," he said. Earlier, SP Neelam Valley office said at least 49 persons were killed and over three dozen wounded after scores of houses perished in Sarg, Seiri and Sargan Bagwali villages in the valley where avalanches played havoc. The Muzaffarabad division administration, including DIG Police Muhammad Ilyas and SP Neelam valley Asif Durrani besides the Pak Army jawans and local administration supervised and participated in the rescue operation in the affected areas to recover the missing bodies.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan called off his political engagements for a day today (Wednesday) to visit the affected areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The prime minister also directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the military and federal ministers to carry out rescue operations in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "The severe snowfalls and landslides in AJK have caused misery & deaths. I have asked the NDMA, the military & all our federal ministers to immediately provide all humanitarian assistance on an emergency footing to the affected people in AJK," PM Imran posted on his Twitter account. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed grief over the loss of lives in intense snowfall in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Balochistan, ISPR said in a statement. The army chief offered condolences to the bereaved families and gave directions for continued assistance to the civil administration for rescue and relief operations. “Army helicopters are undertaking operations in snow-hit areas of Sharda, Sargan, Bakwal and Taobat,” said the ISPR, adding that doctors, paramedics, tents, rations, blankets, and medicines were being provided to the affected families.

Meanwhile, roads in various districts of Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stand blocked due to avalanches and landslides. The NDMA spokesperson said snow emergency was declared by the Balochistan government in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, Kachhi Mastung and Harnai districts. In various incidents people were stranded on highways due to flooding in Mushkhel Tehsil of Washuk district.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Balochistan and the district government had requested the Southern Command, Quetta for provision of helicopter for rescue of stranded people and relief activities in Washuk and Khuzdar districts. The PDMA Balochistan and the district government provided cooked food to approximately 2,500 people along with 800-900 blankets and woollies to the people stranded on different highways.

In Quetta, a woman died due to extreme cold, while four children were injured in Quetta. In another mishap, a woman and two children died while three children were injured in Pishin district due to heavy rainfall and snowfall. The maximum deaths occurred in Zhob district where six women died and two men got injured due to heavy rainfall and snowfall, while five women died and two children were injured in Killa Abdullah district. Meanwhile, infrastructure, including a bridge in Kech district also got damaged while Lakhpas-Bolan road, Khanozai Road and Quetta-Chaman road roads were blocked due to the heavy snowfall.

In Gilgit Baltistan no incident of death or property damage was reported. The maximum snowfall reported in Hunza district was 14 inches, Nagar district 12 inches, Skardu district 12 inches, Ghanche district 12 inches, Shigar district 12 inches and Kharmang district 10 inches. The snowfall and landslides at Dashkin, Doyian and Harchu in Astore district caused temporary suspension of traffic.

 

[HAIDER]

Death toll crossed 100. In this weather even Helicopter rescue service can't be carried on.

 

[ghazi52]

Recent spell of torrential rains and heavy snowfall has adversely affected life in Gilgit Baltistan and Balochistan region, including blockage of major thoroughfares during last 36 hours.

Karakoram Highway (KKH), Jaglot-Skardu Road and major communication arteries of Balochistan were severely hit. Landslides and sullen snowfall blocked Karakoram Highway and Jaglot Skardu Road at #Pattan, #Matta #Banda, #Shatial, #TattaPani, #Hunza ,#Sost, Morkhoon, Khunjrab and Dambudas. In Balochistan, portions of N50 and N25 at Khan #Mehtarzai and #Lakpass Tunnel was also impaired.

All the major road networks blocked during last 36 hours by heavy snow squall and landslides have been cleared through concerted efforts of Pakistan Army, FWO and civil administrations of GB and Balochistan. FWO teams have been deployed at bottlenecks astride KKH to ensure smooth and uninterrupted flow of traffic on this vital link.
By FWO Official.

 

[ghazi52]

Death toll now 104 in avalanche-hit areas: NDMA

ISLAMABAD: As many as 104 people have died due to heavy snowfall and avalanches in various parts of the country.

According to daily situation report issued by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Thursday, around 77 people have died in AJK and 56 injured whereas 202 houses have been damaged due to avalanches in the Neelum district.

However, no further causalities are reported yet in Balochistan where 20 casualties have been recorded with 23 persons injured. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five people have died and 13 injured with a total of 31 houses damaged due to heavy snowfall.

In Gilgit-Baltistan, two deaths have been reported with four injured and three houses damaged. The details of relief items comprising tonnes of ration, water, tents, first aid kits and many other necessary items have already been released by the NDMA, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs), Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) and State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) for the affected people of catastrophe-hit areas.

A total of 1,957 tents, 1,250 blankets, tarpaulins 400, ration of 13.6 tonnes, plastic mats 2,250, sheets 150, solar lights 550, kitchen sets 100, mattresses 150, 300 sleeping mats, miscellaneous clothing 2,700, shoes 350, first aid kits 250, lanterns 50, 60 tonnes of salt and 1,000 litres of water has been provided to the victims.

The report said the heavy snowfall in KP, AJK and GB has wreaked havoc with life and property whereas avalanches occurred in Surgan, Kel, Lawat, Chaknat, Neelum Valley and AJK. Over a dozen of various roads and highways are blocked in AJK, Balochistan, KP and GB.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Alipuri to Khawazakhela Road, Mastuj Road in Upper Chitral, local roads in Upper Dir, link roads in Abbottabad district, Kalabagh-Nathiagali Road, MNJ-Naran Road and Karakoram Highway (KKH) in Kohistan district are blocked. In Balochistan, Killa Abdullah Link Roads and N-50 Quetta-Kahnozai are still blocked due to heavy snowfall.

 

[ghazi52]

Army rescues 22 LUMS students stuck in snow-hit GB district

Image from the Inter–Services Public Relations (ISPR) shows the students from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) being airlifted to safety by the Pakistan Army.—Photo: ISPR

The Pakistan Army on Monday rescued 22 students stranded in the snow-hit area of Rattu in Glilgit Baltistan's Astore district, the Inter–Services Public Relations said.

The students from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) had been stranded in the area for the past five days with harsh weather conditions prevailing throughout, the military's media wing said.

According to the ISPR, the university administration had approached the army after which Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa "directed for their immediate heli-lifting".

Image from the Inter–Services Public Relations (ISPR) shows the students from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) after being rescued by the Pakistan Army.—Photo: ISPR

The "students had gone for skiing to Gilgit and were stuck there for the last five days due to heavy snow and landslides," the army's media wing said.



Over a hundred dead in snow-related deaths

More than a hundred people have lost their lives due to heavy snowfall and avalanches in various parts of the country.

According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), around 77 people have died in AJK and 56 injured whereas 202 houses have been damaged due to avalanches in the Neelum district.

In Balochistan, 20 casualties were recorded with 23 persons injured, five people have died and 13 injured with a total of 31 houses damaged due to heavy snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

At least two deaths were reported with four injured and three houses damaged in Gilgit-Baltistan