10 die as snow, rain ravage K-P

Passengers stranded at Lowari Tunnel, children crying of hunger, lives at risk

PESHAWAR: At least 10 people were killed across the province and dozens injured in rain and snow related incidents during the past 24 hours.

Among the deceased, four people, including two children and a woman, were killed in landslide and roof collapses in Dir. Life came at a standstill in Chitral with passengers stranded in the Lowari Tunnel.

According to the hospital sources in Landi Kotal, house of Maghaz Ullah Shinawari caved in at Bacha Mena, Torkham, resulting in death of two minor girls. Two women were injured in the incident

The injured were brought to the Landi Kotal hospital for treatment where their condition was said to be out of danger.

In Tirah Valley, roof of a security check-post collapsed under the weight of snow on FC personnel.

Two jawans of the paramilitary force died in the cave-in while three others were injured, security sources reported today.

Meanwhile heavy snowfall and downpour in the Upper Dir and Chitral have crippled the lives of locals, while hundreds of travellers have been stranded in the Lowari Top.



At least 150 cars coming from Peshawar and Islamabad to Chitral were caught in bad weather 10,230 feet above the sea level with temperature down to -10 degree centigrade and intermittent snowfall.

At least three feet of snowfall has been recorded on Lowari Top. There were women and children too in the stranded cars and many children were crying of hunger after having one night in the vehicles, one of the stranded travellers Shaad Muhammad told Daily Express.

Assistant Commissioner Chitral Fayyaz Qureshi was also among the stranded commuters.

Meanwhile in Kardorah area of Upper Dir, two brothers were killed and their parents seriously injured due to landslide on their house.

In Gandigar locality of the district, a man was killed when a heavy rock fell on his house. In Ali Gasher Ashiri Darra, a woman died in landslide.

Over a dozen people were injured in various such incidents across the district.

Until last reports, snowfall continued over Dir and Chitral.

Two people were killed when a jeep fell into river near Ajnu Pul in Upper Chitral on Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2019.