3 people, including Pakistani army officer, civilian, killed in avalanche

ISTANBUL

Three people, including one Pakistani army officer, one soldier, and one civilian, were killed on Saturday when an avalanche struck the northern region of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan’s military said.

According to a Pakistani military statement, the avalanche took place while a snow clearance operation was underway with the use of heavy machinery to open Burzil Pass “to facilitate the operational movement” of own forces in the area.

The operation, which was led by Captain Asmad Gulfam, came to a halt after the avalanche was triggered, trapping the officer along with two soldiers and a civilian machine operator.

Three of them died, it added.