Pakistan: Avalanche in the mountainous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, 11 tribal people killed, many injured

Eleven people from a nomadic tribe were killed and 25 others injured in an avalanche in Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region on Saturday. The avalanche occurred in the Chambeli area of ​​Shoutor Pass in Astor district, police said. The dead included four women and a four-year-old child. According to the police, after the avalanche, rescue operations were started with the help of the local people. Later, Pakistani army personnel joined the rescue operation.

Rescue officials said 25 members of a Gujjar family were on their way to Astor from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) along with their cattle when they were hit by an avalanche. The injured have been admitted to the district hospital, where the condition of 12 remains critical.

Earlier, Deputy Inspector General of Police of the area Tufail Mir said rescue teams were facing challenges in reaching the affected area due to the difficult terrain. He said the Pakistan Army’s Detachment Force Command Northern Sector provided helicopter service, relief materials and paramedical staff to assist in the rescue operation, but they could not be sent to the site due to bad weather. The official said the district administration is closely monitoring the rescue operation, while emergency has been declared at Astor District Hospital and Combined Military Hospital Skardu.

Confirming the avalanche, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Secretary Mohiuddin Wani said rescue teams were at the spot and helping the affected. At the same time, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan has expressed deep grief over the death of people in the avalanche. He also directed the local authorities to start the rescue operation. He has ordered the Interior Secretary, the Director General of Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority and other officials to investigate the incident immediately.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief over the death of people
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted expressing deep sorrow over the casualties in avalanches and said such incidents are on the rise in Pakistan due to the effects of climate change. He said that the whole world has to fulfill its responsibility to save the developing countries like Pakistan from such harmful effects.

Let us tell you that out of 14 peaks of more than 8,000 meters high in the world, five are located in this region. In addition, Gilgit-Baltistan has over 7,000 glaciers and is prone to frequent occurrences of avalanches, landslides and glacial lake outbursts.