11 Dead, 13 Injured in Astore Avalanche

News Desk

Islamabad: At least 11 people lost their lives and 13 others sustained injuries in a snow avalanche that hit the Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday, according to the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA).

شونٹھر ٹاپ پاس میں برفانی تودہ گرنے سے قیمتی جانوں کے زیاں پر دلی دکھ اور رنج ہوا۔ مرحومین کی مغفرت اور ان کے اہلِ خانہ کیلئے صبر جمیل کیلئے دعا گو ہوں۔ موسمیاتی تبدیلی کے اثرات کی وجہ سے پاکستان میں ایسے واقعات میں اضافہ ہو رہا ہے۔ پوری دنیا کو پاکستان جیسے پہلے ہی معاشی مشکلات…

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) May 27, 2023

Diamer-Astore DivisionDeputy Inspector General of PoliceTufail Mir informed that a control room has been set up in the district to facilitate rescue operations and recover people from under the debris. Rescue teams have reached the spot, and attempts are being made to recover people trapped under the snow, he added.

An Army helicopter and a team of doctors, ambulances, and rescue teams have reached the spot, and attempts are being made to recover people trapped under the snow.

An emergency had been imposed at DHQ Hospital Astore, PHQ and RHQ Gilgit, and Combined Military Hospital Skardu.

Views of search and rescue operations after a snow avalanche killed 11 people in Shounter area of Astore.

13 individuals were rescued while 8 bodies have been recovered from the debris. Search for the remaining is underway.

Officials from Rescue 1122, Pakistan Army and Levies,… pic.twitter.com/V5qb8N45Tz

— PAMIR TIMES ® (@pamirtimes) May 27, 2023

GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan is grieved over the incident and instructed local authorities to initiate rescue operations. He called upon the secretary of interior, the director general of the GBDMA, and other officials to look into the incident immediately.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

The premier said such incidents were increasing in Pakistan due to climate change and urged the world “to fulfil its responsibility to protect developing countries like Pakistan against the effects of climate change.”