The death toll due to avalanches, landslides and other related incidents after record snowfall and winter rains in different parts of the country has reached 100, with Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) remains the worst-affected area where at least 76 people have lost their lives.
According to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 76 people died due to avalanches triggered by heavy rains and snowfall in Neelum Valley of AJK, 20 people died in Balochistan and two persons died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan each. According to NMDA, 90 people sustained injuries in these incidents and were shifted to health facilities by helicopters.
The avalanches damaged 2,013 houses in AJK of which 107 are completely damaged and 106 are partly damaged. The avalanches also damaged shops, mosques, vehicles and other properties in the affected areas. The heavy snowfall and rains have also damaged 35 houses in Balochistan.
Rescue teams have been in the field to provide relief to the affected people. As many as 2,000 tents, 1,250 blankets and 2,250 other necessary items have been delivered to the affected areas.
According to authorities, eight more bodies were recovered from Neelum Valley in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday and the death toll from an avalanche that had struck a day earlier rose to 76.
According to State Disaster Management Authority, 22 shops and more than two hundred houses were hit by avalanches. At least 91 houses were completely destroyed and 101 were damaged partially.
Frequent avalanches and landslides occur in Kashmir during the winter, often blocking roads and leaving communities isolated. Authorities have shut down schools, while several highways and roads were closed across the northern mountainous areas, according to officials.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan on Wednesday visited Muzaffarabad to review the latest situation after snow-slide incident in Neelum Valley, said an official statement release from the office of AJK PM. He paid a visit to CMH and inquired about the health of those injured. The chief secretary AJK briefed the Prime Minister regarding damages incurred due to snowfall and avalanches and also briefed him about the efforts undertaken.
"The severe snowfalls and landslides in Azad Kashmir have caused misery and deaths," tweeted Prime Minister Imran Khan late on Tuesday. "I have asked the NDMA, the military and all our federal ministers to immediately provide all humanitarian assistance to affected people," he added.
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