Links severed: Blizzard maroons over 160 families near Astore

GILGIT: Over 160 families have been left to the mercy of nature after week-long snowfall cut off their village from the rest of the world.

Nestled between towering peaks, Mushkin is a small village in Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to locals, the heavy snowfall blocked the road leading to and from the village leading to a shortage of food, firewood and medicines. They urged authorities to immediately provide relief goods.

Several houses were reported to have collapsed due to landslides, forcing several families to live without shelter, sources said.

People have asked the provincial government and disaster management authorities to shift them to safer places.

Dashkin, Mushkin and surrounding areas have been hit by heavy snowfall which is as deep as three-feet in some places.

The areas have also been deprived electricity supply and other communication links.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 12^th, 2017.