9 killed when avalanche hits house in KP’s Lower Chitral

At least nine people were killed and a child injured after an avalanche hit 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 Express Pakinomist, adding that all bodies buried under the debris were found. He said the injured child was rescued alive and was shifted to Drosh for medical treatment.

Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Bilal Ahmed Faizi said the incident took place in Sareegal village, within the jurisdiction of PP Damil and PS Arandus, when a massive avalanche 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 in difficult conditions, with police present at the scene to assist the affected family and coordinate emergency relief efforts.

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 underway at the time of the incident and Chitral police were working to clear access roads. He added that the Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps, along with the police, joined the relief effort, rescued the injured and recovered the bodies, thereby completing the operation.

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

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the avalanche.

In a post on X describing the extreme weather events as a climate emergency, the president directed federal, provincial and local governments to improve preparedness, relief efforts and public communications 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 speed up rescue and relief operations and directed that additional machinery and personnel be deployed to restore roads in snow-hit areas.

Describing the incident as extremely tragic, CM Afridi expressed deep grief over the loss of life and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. He also ordered that the injured should be given the best possible medical care.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed deep grief over the death of nine people after an avalanche hit a house in Domel area of ​​Chitral while conveying his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and praying 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 deep grief over the loss of life, saying that heavy snowfall had continued in the mountainous areas since the previous day. He added that the provincial government was fully mobilized to respond to the situation.

Shafi Jan said Rescue 1122, the district administration, civil defense and other relevant departments were working diligently, adding that the provincial government shared the grief of the bereaved families. He also asked for the deceased’s forgiveness.