At least 32 killed in Pakistan avalanches

At least 32 people were killed in avalanches that hit Pakistan’s isolated north-west over the weekend.

The weekend avalanches struck Pakistan’s rugged Chitral district, near the border with Afghanistan, where flooding and avalanches have killed more than people over the past 10 days as the region has been hit by rains and snow.

One of the avalanches hit 18 homes in the village of Wasij. Police said residents and police rescuers had pulled out 24 bodies. Fourteen people were reported missing while six others were pulled out alive. In Postaki, another village, five members of a family were reported killed after an avalanche struck the family’s home.

But the overall toll rose to 32 after rescuers dug out three more bodies, two in Wasij and one in Postaki, said Ijaz Ahmed, a senior police officer.

Twelve people were still missing in Wasij and feared dead, Ahmed said.

Another avalanche hit Olas village on Sunday and 11 people were missing, but Ahmed had no information on their fate.

Heavy rains and snow have been lashing Chitral, about 170 miles north-west of Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, since late last week. In some areas, about six feet of snow has fallen over the past several days, Ahmed said.

Two military helicopters were expected to arrive in Chitral later today with medicines, food and blankets for avalanche victims, as bad weather had prevented flights to the remote area, Ahmed said. The helicopters will also evacuate injured people.

Relief efforts were likely to be hampered by blocked roads and fallen telephone lines.