9 killed as avalanche hits house in K-P’s Lower Chitral

At least nine people were killed and one child injured after an avalanche struck a house in the remote Damel area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s Lower Chitral following heavy snowfall, officials said on Friday.

Lower Chitral Deputy Commissioner Rao Hashim Azeem confirmed the toll to The Express Tribune, adding that all bodies buried under the debris were recovered. He said the injured child was rescued alive and was being shifted to Drosh for medical treatment.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the incident occurred in the village of Sareegal, within the jurisdiction of PP Damil and PS Arandu, when a massive snow slide trapped 10 members of the same family under the debris.

He said locals immediately launched rescue efforts and initially recovered four bodies from the rubble. Search and rescue operations continued amid difficult conditions, with police present at the scene to assist the affected family and coordinate relief work.

Faizi said the victims were identified as a man, his wife and seven of their children, including three daughters and two sons.

He added that a rescue operation was carried out with the participation of the Pakistan Army, Chitral Scouts, Chitral Levies and Chitral Police, with local volunteers playing a key role despite harsh weather and terrain.

District Police Officer Lower Chitral Riffatullah Khan said snowfall was ongoing at the time of the incident and that Chitral police worked to clear access routes. He added that, alongside the police, the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps took part in relief efforts, rescuing the injured and recovering the bodies, thereby completing the operation.

According to the DPO, a police alert was issued due to the continuing severe weather conditions, and officers were directed to remain on duty round the clock until the situation improved.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the avalanche.

In a post on X, describing the extreme weather events as a climate emergency, the president directed federal, provincial and local authorities to enhance preparedness, relief efforts and public communication through the use of modern technology.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken notice of the avalanche incident in Chitral and ordered the provision of immediate relief and assistance to the affected families.

He directed the relevant authorities to expedite rescue and relief operations and instructed that additional machinery and personnel be deployed to restore roads in snow-affected areas.

Describing the incident as extremely tragic, CM Afridi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. He further directed that the injured be provided with the best possible medical care.

K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed deep sorrow over the death of nine people after an avalanche struck a house in the Domel area of Chitral while conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for those who lost their lives in the incident.

Terming the incident extremely tragic, the governor said the provincial government shared the grief of the affected families.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the CM on Information Shafi Jan described the incident and expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives and said heavy snowfall had been continuing in the mountainous areas since the previous day. He added that the provincial government was fully mobilised to respond to the situation.

Shafi Jan said Rescue 1122, the district administration, civil defence and other relevant departments were working vigorously, adding that the provincial government shared the grief of the bereaved families. He also prayed for the forgiveness of the deceased.