Avalanches devastate houses in Kashmir: At least 77 casualties

A series of disastrous avalanches struck the Pakistan-administered region of Kashmir resulting in at least 77 casualties and 94 injuries.

The avalanches were triggered after intense precipitation and snowfall struck the mountainous region of Neelum Valley, Kashmir. The snow slips reached villages to hit roads and residences. Many people were killed immediately after the impact or after being trapped under the snow. One of the avalanches hit a group of about 36 children that were on their way to school resulting in one fatality and 3 injuries. 

Rescue teams, including locals, police and military crews with helicopters, conducted search operations for many days and saved several people. The latest of the victims was a 6-year-old girl that was rescued and hospitalized after being trapped for 20 hours. "She had suffered fractures in her skull and orbital bones and left leg and despite our best efforts died of her brain injuries," Adnan Mehraj, a doctor at the hospital, stated.

A 62-years-old man saw an avalanche burying his residence and his family under the snow. He desperately started digging in order to help his relatives and managed to pull out of the snow his daughter-in-law who was severely injured. However, the other 8 members of the family died. “I have eight dead bodies lying in the open. If I send her to the hospital, who will look after her there? And if I go along with her, who will bury the eight bodies?” he wondered.

Some volunteers that participated in the rescue operations also saw their families hit by avalanches. They gathered and settled in houses near the devastated villages but they considered they were far from the vulnerable area. However, new snow slips struck their temporary shelters. “I tried to run toward our home but could hardly walk; I was sinking in about eight feet of snow. At some distance, I heard women and children crying and calling for help. When we reached our village, we saw piles of snow and mud where we had left our families — 18 people in all," Abdul Rahman, a 29-year-old volunteer said.

The weather conditions in Kashmir have been the worst in about 20 years. People living in mountainous regions have been particularly affected. Supplies including medicines and food are being provided to the victims by helicopter missions. "We are trying our best to alleviate their sufferings," Mathar Niaz Rana, Pakistan-administered Kashmir's top administrative official, stated.

Avalanches were also triggered in Afghanistan and in India-administered Kashmir but their ramifications were less severe.