28 dead, several injured as heavy snowfall, rain hit areas

CHAMAN/MUZAFFARABAD: At least 28 people have been killed and several others injured on Tuesday in the rain and snow-related incidents in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Balochistan.

According to details, 14 people have died in Quetta while 10 others were sustained injuries mostly when roofs collapsed due to heavy rain in different areas of Balochistan.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has imposed emergency in seven districts of Balochistan following continuous heavy rain and snowfall. The authority has declared an emergency in Ziarat, Harnai, Pishin, Mastung, Qila Abdullah and Kech districts of Balochistan.

On the other hand, landsliding and snowfall in Azad Kashmir has killed 14 people and injured more than 20. AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan has directed the authorities concerned to start immediate rescue operation in the rain-affected areas of the state.

Read more: Snowfall hampers relief work in quake-hit Gilgit

The AJK PM has directed Minister of State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) Ahmed Raza Qadri to accelerate rescue and relief activities in the rain and snow hit areas of Azad Kashmir.

He directed the SDMA to collaborate with the relevant departments and rush to the far-flung remote areas of the state to provide relief to the affected people at the earliest.