Several dozen dead due to avalanches, bad weather in Pakistan, India: government officials

[Abdullah719]

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - At least 57 people were killed and others were missing after avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir over the last 24 hours, senior government officials said on Tuesday.

In neighboring India, at least 10 people were killed after several avalanches hit the northern-part of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Two Pakistani officials said many villagers were still stranded in the avalanches in the Neelum valley area following heavy rains that also triggered landslides.

Many people were reported missing and feared dead as rescue efforts got under way, one of the officials said.

A senior Indian police official said five soldiers were among the 10 killed near the border between India and Pakistan.

The area is one of the world’s most militarily tense frontiers, where the neighboring armies have confronted each other over disputed territory for decades.

Kashmir has been divided between Indian and Pakistan since their independence in 1947 and for decades tension on the border has left tens of thousands dead.

In 2012, an avalanche engulfed a Pakistani army battalion headquarters near the Indian border killing at least 124 soldiers and 11 civilians.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...stan-india-government-officials-idUSKBN1ZD0TU

 

[Haroon786]

Sorry to hear this, hope all authorities involved, put their best foot forward and engage in relief and recovery efforts.

 

[PakLFC]

Imagine what would happen if they went to war. Read somewhere that that even a conventional long war will take the subcontinent 50 years back as if they are not backward already. All politicians from both countries would immediately leave for UK, Europe and America leaving the poorest to die in millions.

 

[Abdullah719]

Death toll rises to 70 as extreme weather wreaks havoc across Pakistan

Spoiler

The death toll from snowfall and rain-related incidents in Pakistan over the last three days rose to 70 while the number of injured is estimated to be 29, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said in an official statement on Tuesday.

An increase in the death toll is anticipated by the authority.

According to NDMA, rains in Balochistan have claimed 15 lives and have injured 11 others. At least 55 deaths and 12 injured have been reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

In Neelam valley, 19 people have died in an avalanche while 10 others are still missing. According to NDMA, four injured have been rescued while work is currently under way to rescue the remaining people.

Major thoroughfares in Balochistan, including Bolan Road, Khanozai Road and Quetta-Chaman Road have been closed for the time being, the statement said, adding that the most snowfall recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was at Lowari Approach Road at a whopping 23 inches.

Mainly cold and dry weather is expected in most parts of the country tomorrow, with very cold in upper parts and north Balochistan, said the authority in its weekly outlook. Cloudy weather with light rain and snowfall over hills is expected in Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir.

On Monday, avalanches, landslides and other rain-related incidents claimed at least 21 lives and left scores of others injured as most parts of the country remained in the grip of a strong westerly weather system that entered Balochistan in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Eleven of the nearly two dozen deaths were reported from Kashmir, seven from Punjab and three from Balochistan. Meanwhile, Punjab had recorded 14 deaths in rain-related incidents on Sunday.

Relief, Disaster and Civil Defence Secretary Syed Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri told Dawn that heavy snowfall and rains had blocked several arteries in high altitude areas.

"Neelum Valley Road, Leepa Valley Road, Chikar-Bagh Road, Bagh-Lasdana Road, Mehmood Galli-Abbaspur Road and Tain Dhalkot Road were all closed for traffic," he said.

In Chitral, the Lowai Top Road is still blocked due to continuous heavy snow fall, due to which traffic going to and from the area has reverted back.

The official advised people, particularly tourists, to avoid unnecessary travel in snowbound and landslide-prone areas during the prevailing weather conditions.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1528267/d...-extreme-weather-wreaks-havoc-across-pakistan

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Inalillahi wa Inna ilaihi rajioon for the deceased.

 

[MenInG]

At least 55 people have been killed and more are missing after avalanches and landslides hit Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

The region's Neelum Valley was particularly hard hit, with many people left cut off from help.

While the area is prone to weather disasters, the current toll is one of the deadliest in recent history.

The harsh weather has also killed dozens in other parts of Pakistan, and in India and Afghanistan.

Pakistani Kashmir was the worst-hit area, with 55 people killed and 10 others missing, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said.

In most places the weather improved on Tuesday, but many of the worst affected areas remain cut off.

In Pakistan's Balochistan province, officials put the death toll at 20 including 12 women and seven children.

Eight people have also died in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, according to local media.

In Afghanistan, the official toll stands at 24 dead and 40 wounded over the past two weeks, with most of the casualties occurring over the past three days.

The worst-affected provinces in the country include Helmand, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul. Rescue efforts are under way.

Pakistani authorities have told the BBC that across Neelum Valley, at least 51 people have been killed and over 40 injured by both avalanches and landslides.

More than 100 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

Police say most routes to access the valley are blocked, so rescue teams cannot get in.

Neelum Valley is a narrow crescent-shaped valley that runs some 130km (81 miles) from end to end, surrounded on both sides by tall mountains.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51104299

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The severe snowfalls and landslides in AJK have caused misery & deaths. I have asked the NDMA, the military & all our federal ministers to immediately provide all humanitarian assistance on an emergency footing to the affected people in AJK.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1217064149353713666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Climate change is already affecting poor peoples' lives.

Here is a map of countries that will suffer most/least the upcoming climate disasters.

Both Pakistan and India have tough upcoming decades. Afghanistan will suffer a lot as well so expect many more refugees.

Spoiler

 

[MenInG]

At least 62 people have been killed and more are missing after avalanches and landslides hit Pakistan-administered Kashmir over the past three days.

The region's Neelum Valley was particularly hard hit, with many people left cut off from help.

While the area is prone to weather disasters, the current toll is one of the deadliest in recent history.

The harsh weather has also killed dozens in other parts of Pakistan, and in India and Afghanistan.

Pakistani Kashmir was the worst-hit area, with 62 people killed and several missing, Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said.

In most places the weather improved on Tuesday, but many of the worst affected areas remain cut off.

In Pakistan's Balochistan province, officials put the death toll at 20 including 12 women and seven children.

Eight people have also died in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, according to local media.

In Afghanistan, the official toll stands at 24 dead and 40 wounded over the past two weeks, with most of the casualties occurring over the past three days.

The worst-affected provinces in the country include Helmand, Kandahar, Herat and Kabul. Rescue efforts are under way.

Pakistani authorities have told the BBC that across Neelum Valley, at least 59 people have been killed and over 40 injured by both avalanches and landslides.

More than 100 houses have been destroyed or damaged.

Police say most routes to access the valley are blocked, so rescue teams cannot get in.

Neelum Valley is a narrow crescent-shaped valley that runs some 130km (81 miles) from end to end, surrounded on both sides by tall mountains.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51104299

 

[Abdullah719]

PM Imran visits injured in AJK as death toll from extreme cold weather rises

Spoiler

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's (AJK) Muzaffarabad on Wednesday, a day after the region witnessed extreme weather conditions resulting in the deaths of at least 74 individuals.

According to the Prime Minister's Office, the premier received a briefing from the chief secretary of AJK regarding the damages incurred due to snowfall and avalanches in the region as well as the relief efforts undertaken.

The prime minister also visited the injured at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Muzaffarabad. The hospital was cordoned off and media personnel were not allowed entry while the prime minister conducted his tour.

The death toll in avalanches, landslides and other rain-related incidents during the current spell of a westerly wave weather system across the country has surged to 98, with most of the cases being reported from AJK.

According to figures released by the District Commissioner Office, the weather has killed 74 people and injured 56. Around 88 houses have been completely ruined, while 94 homes have been damaged partially. Seventeen shops have also suffered damages, the DC Office said.

Officials had said the figure could further go up as some areas in the Neelum Valley were still inaccessible due to heavy snowfall, while weather pundits forecast another spell of snowfall beginning on Friday.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Pakistan Army, in collaboration with civil administration, is also engaged in the rescue and relief efforts in Neelum Valley.

Earlier today, AJK Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana had confirmed the prime minister would visit the area and receive a briefing on the situation in the valley in the aftermath of the weather disasters.

Taking notice of the deteriorating situation in Neelum Valley on Tuesday, the prime minister had taken to Twitter to assure citizens that the government had taken notice of the situation and was working on an "emergency footing" to provide relief and assistance.

He said: "The severe snowfalls and landslides in AJK have caused misery and deaths. I have asked the NDMA [National Disaster Management Authority], the military and all our federal ministers to immediately provide all humanitarian assistance on an emergency footing to the affected people in AJK."

In total, 74 people were killed in the AJK, 20 in Balochistan and at least seven in Sialkot and other districts of Punjab over the past few days. Further, two more deaths were reported in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Rain-related incidents also led to the closure of major roads and highways in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, AJK and Balochistan.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1528460/p...as-death-toll-from-extreme-cold-weather-rises

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The whole nation is proud of Suleman Khan who showed great courage and selflessness to help people stranded in the snow. <a href="https://t.co/S6ALeUzhur">https://t.co/S6ALeUzhur</a></p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1218499812192026624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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