Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Faizi said on Friday that a comprehensive rescue operation was ongoing to help the people affected by heavy snowfall in the province.
“The operation is ongoing in Tirah valley, Painda Cheena, Dawatoi and Bagh Maidan on the directives of Rescue 1122 director general,” he said in a statement.
“Twenty-three operational vehicles of Rescue 1122 and rescue teams comprising more than 100 personnel are taking part in the rescue operation,” he said.
It should be mentioned that the residents of Tirah have been vacating their homes amid a planned military operation against militants in the restive valley.
Hundreds of displaced families were stranded on the road on Thursday due to the prolonged registration process, which was suspended in the evening due to heavy snowfall that began in earlier in the day.
On Thursday night, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said, “During the forced evacuation from Tirah, my people are stranded in the snowfall.”
“The district administration as well as the resources of the entire province are being used to help them. People are trapped in about three places,” he said.
Afridi said some people were being transported to nearby homes as well as to areas designated by the district administration. He also said that contact could not be established with some people due to a lack of mobile signals and blocked roads.
“I am personally monitoring all the rescue activities. All departments have been instructed to rescue people and provide relief,” he said.
Shangla receives heavy snowfall
Meanwhile, KP’s Shangla district received a heavy amoung of snowfall, blocking major roads, including the Karakoram Highway, and disrupting the power supply to most areas.
According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), snowfall was reported in most parts of the province’s north on Thursday night, which continued till Friday morning.
It said the heavy snowfall caused the blockade of roads in various districts. However, efforts were underway to reopen the roads.
Attaullah Khan, a resident of Kotkay, told Dawn that his village had received 17 inches of snow last night. He said residents were anticipating that this snow would resolve the water shortage in during the spring.
“I remember this heavy and constant snow was received in our village years ago. We are totally dependent on snow because we use spring water which comes from the mountain tops,” Khan said.
Bakht Alam Khan, the tehsil council chairman of Chakesar, said the community had been praying for snowfall. He said a prolonged snow drought had severely affected agriculture and worsened water shortages in the area.
He said the road blockades due to the snowfall was temporary but would also help them fulfil their water needs.
Shujat Ali Khan told Dawn that Bisham had last received snowfall in 2013. He said the weather had brought joy to the people, especially the children.
