Army launches rescue operation in K-P areas amidst heavy snowfall

Essential supplies, medicines being provided from nearby army camps to rescued travelers

BALOCHISTAN:

Rescue operations are currently underway by the Pakistan Army following heavy snowfall in the areas around Lowari Tunnel, Kalam, Chitral, and Malam Jabba.

The army's rescue teams remained active throughout the night, clearing snow from the roads and rescuing travellers trapped in snow-affected areas. Moreover, essential supplies and medicines were being provided from nearby army camps.

Over the past few days, the rescue teams have actively worked to reopen roads affected by heavy snowfall.

The army, in collaboration with district administration, has been using heavy machinery to address urgent situations.

Efforts by the army to completely restore access to all roads affected by severe snowfall will persist until full recovery is achieved.

Read Balochistan’s 2nd snowfall of season

Rain with snowfall pummelled up and down the country on Friday, from the foots of Himalaya and Karakoram to the coast of the Arabian Sea, unleashing floods in some coastal towns in Balochistan and disrupting daily life in the plains of Sindh and Punjab.

Authorities, who had been warned of rains from March 1 to 3 in advance by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), remained on alert in different parts of the country and launched immediate rescue in Gwadar to save the marooned people.

The rain started on Thursday night and continued intermittently throughout Friday. The rainfall disrupted daily life in various parts of the country, especially in Sindh and Balochistan, and caused great inconvenience to travellers. It also compelled the people to remain indoors to stay warm.

So far, Gwadar has been the worst-affected, where incessant rain in several areas has caused havoc, damaging houses. The Balochistan government and other rescue organisations, including Edhi Foundation, along with security personnel, have started relief activities.