Tragic avalanche in Chitral claims nine lives, including four women, while heavy snowfall paralyzes life across KP, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan
By Tanveer Ahmed
CHITRAL/MALAKAND: Nine people, including four women and five men, were killed in severe snowfall with an avalanche in Chitral that also disrupted life across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Officials said the avalanche struck remote mountainous areas, highlighting the dangers posed by the heavy winter weather that has swept northern Pakistan in recent days. The Karakoram Highway was blocked in several locations in Chilas and Upper Kohistan due to snow and landslides. Hundreds of passengers and freight vehicles were stranded as authorities worked to clear the roads.
Snowfall transformed the northern mountains into a stark winter landscape, with trees and peaks coated in white and waterfalls frozen over. Areas affected included Abbottabad, Mansehra, Lower Dir, Bajaur, Malakand, Swat, Malam Jabba, Kurram, North Waziristan, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Accumulated snow, in some places several feet deep, blocked key roads and intensified the cold.
Officials noted that Miran Shah and Mirali experienced snowfall for the first time in years. In northern Balochistan, snowfall had eased, but Siberian winds continued to bring extreme cold. In Quetta, Qalat, Chaman, and Ziarat, ponds, pipelines, and roads froze, causing shortages of drinking water. Travel on the Quetta–Ziarat highway was suspended for 24 hours, while the N50 Zhob Highway remained blocked at several locations.
Authorities deployed staff and machinery to clear snow and restore access to affected areas. Residents were urged to avoid unnecessary travel and take safety precautions. Security forces and local administrations worked alongside rescue teams to assist stranded families and ensure that essential services were maintained.
Observers said the extreme weather underscored the vulnerability of northern and western regions to winter storms. Analysts warned that continued cold and snow could further disrupt transport, electricity, and water supplies, adding strain to remote communities. Many residents praised the swift response of authorities but highlighted the need for long-term planning and infrastructure to cope with recurring winter hazards.
The heavy snowfall and avalanche deaths serve as a reminder of the risks faced by communities in Pakistan’s mountainous regions, and officials emphasized ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact on human life and maintain connectivity in affected areas.
