9 killed after avalanche hits house in northwest Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan

At least nine people were killed after an avalanche struck a house in northwest Pakistan on Friday, as heavy snowfall hit several parts of the country, leaving hundreds stranded, officials and local media reported.

The avalanche struck in Domail town of Chitral district in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, killing five men and four women, local broadcaster Geo News reported, citing the district administration.

A child was also injured in the incident.

Hundreds of people were stranded in northwestern and southwestern Pakistan due to road closures caused by heavy snowfall.

Rescuers backed by army personnel launched an operation to rescue nearly 100 vehicles stranded in the restive Tirah valley of Khyber tribal district, which sits near the Afghanistan border, a statement from the district administration said.

Most of the people are displaced residents of Tirah valley who were moving to safer places ahead of a planned military operation in the restless region, where militants have long been fighting the security forces.

Over a dozen vehicles are still stranded as heavy snowfall is still continuing in the region, a district administration official told Anadolu by telephone, adding that women and children from the stranded vehicles have been shifted to safer places.

Security forces and rescue personnel also rescued hundreds of people stranded in different parts of northwestern Kohistan and southwestern Zhob districts due to heavy snowfall.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast more rain and snowfall in northern and southwestern Pakistan during the next 24 to 48 hours.