Prime Minister Imran Khan posted a tweet on Tuesday urging the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the military and federal ministers to provide aid to people suffering in the deteriorating weather conditions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir immediately.
“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,” the premier said on the social media website.
Earlier today, the death toll from snowfall and rain-related incidents in Pakistan increased to 70 while the number of injured was estimated to be 29, said an official statement the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
19 people died in an avalanche in Neelam valley while 10 were still missing. Four injured were saved while work is currently in progress to rescue the remaining people, according to NDMA.
Secretary for relief, disaster and civil defense Syed Shahid Mohyiddin Qadri told media that heavy snowfall and rains had blocked many 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.
The official advised people, particularly visitors, during the prevailing weather conditions to refrain from unnecessary travel in snowbound and landslide-prone areas.
