Brutal cold snap brings death toll to at least 170 in Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan

Heavy snow, rain, and frigid temperatures across Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan continue to trigger avalanches that have brought the death toll to at least 170, as of Thursday, January 16, 2020.

In Pakistan, at least 15 more people, including five army soldiers, died in avalanches in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, bringing the fatality count to at least 121 in the country.

In Astore district, avalanches killed five soldiers, a woman, and a child in two separate locations, according to officials. Several others were injured as well, and four houses were damaged.

The five army personnel were hit in the Dombabaho area of Astore on Tuesday, January 15, and were identified as Lance Naik Banaras Iqbal, Lance Naik Abdul Razzaq, SPR Mohammad Rafiq, SPR Shahzad Akram, and SPR Ammar Ali. Officials added that all five bodies were recovered and brought to Gilgit.

In a press release issued by authorities on Wednesday, Gilgit-Baltistan disaster management authority and district administrations said road clearing operations have started, as well as restorations of telecommunication, electricity, and basic infrastructures across the region.

Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived at Muzaffarabad on the same day, where AJK chief secretary Mathar Niaz Rana informed him of the losses. The officials also discussed rescue efforts being conducted in the valley.

In the Thali area of Qamri town, a four-year-old and a teenager died in an avalanche, while two other members of the family sustained injuries.

Meanwhile, in Neelum Valley, the death toll rose to 74 as more fatalities were reported from a remote hamlet lying in the nearest proximity of the Line of Control.

According to Neelum Deputy Commissioner Raja Shahid Mahmood, a girl lost her life in Seri village, while other casualties were reported from Chaknaar village in Gurez.

A resident of Chaknaar named Mohammad Liaquat said they found out from military sources that at least 14 had died in the village. "My wife and four children are in Chaknaar and I do not have any information about their safety."

Liaquat, along with other Chaknaar residents, said they had been waiting at the helipad to be boarded for their hometown. "The authorities should have ensured that we are flown to our area so that we can bury our dead and take care of the survivors, but the whole day was spent in arrangements for the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan."

Avalanches in Kashmir and other severe weather has put the death toll at 160 across Pakistan and Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/uxvcDTvQ0E

— QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake) January 15, 2020

A funeral is held for an avalanche victim in Neelum Valley, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Avalanches, flooding and harsh winter weather have killed more than 130 people across Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent days pic.twitter.com/NpJITAXoxw

— AFP news agency (@AFP) January 16, 2020

Yesterday avalanche occured near Kandor, Lower Kachura Skardu.

VC: Talib Hussain Skardu Kachuravi pic.twitter.com/StfANSI85h

— Travel Pakistan (@TravelPakistans) January 15, 2020

The recent snow fall in Neelum AJK.
People of local community trying there best to save the injured pic.twitter.com/s6PRNbe9KN

— Ch Qasim Zia (@ChQasimZia1) January 14, 2020

21 more bodies found after #Kashmir avalanche.#Pakistan #NeelumValley pic.twitter.com/uyf18IbIfC

— 5 News Australia (@5NewsAustralia) January 16, 2020

In Afghanistan, at least 39 deaths have been confirmed due to the brutal cold spell. Moreover, around 300 homes had been destroyed by flood and heavy snowfall since January 12, the government said.

Highways in parts of the country were blocked by snow, prompting officials to suspend transportation of goods on road. As a result, military helicopters were being deployed to help evacuate trapped residents.

"We are distributing emergency assistance, including cash to families of the victims," said Tamim Azimi, spokesman for Afghanistan's Natural Disaster Management Authority.

On Monday, January 13, residents of capital city Kabul struggled to go out as snow engulfed roads and temperatures hit -15 °C (5 °F).

#AFG برفباري هاي اخيردر سالنگها ،توام با باد همراه بود ه كه پاك كاري جاده را به چالش مواجه ساخته ،اندازه برف در سالنگ شمالي٤٧ سانتي ودر سالنگ جنوبي ٨٨ سانتي متر، گذارش شده، pic.twitter.com/qDjtJaWgKV

— General Salangi (@MASalangi) January 15, 2020

د کابل-کندهار لويه لار د واورو نه د پاکولو بهير.#Afghanistan #snow #kabul_kandahar_highway pic.twitter.com/F0d5juXrnc

— LoyaPaktiaلویه پکتیا (@LPaktia) January 15, 2020

افغان ملي امنیتي ځواکونو د وروستیو اورښتونو په ترڅ کې لسګونه خلګ وژغورل
افغان ملي امنیتي ځواکونو د سختو اورښتونو په ترڅ کې چې د زابل ولایت کې ترسره شول له خلکو سره په مرسته کولو هغوی خوشحاله کړل لویي لارې يې ورته خلاصې او ستونزې يې ورته حل کړې. #ANDSf #Afghanistan #Snow pic.twitter.com/wtsRwuRj3p

— Salgai Momand (@MomandSalgai) January 14, 2020

Neighboring country India also suffers the impacts of the cold snap. In Sonmarag in the Ganderbal district, 5 civilians and 5 soldiers died in an avalanche in Kulan village.

As cold wave conditions persisted across the north, hilly areas saw snowfall and while several states received rainfall. Dense to very dense fog was observed in Bihar, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi, eastern Uttar Pradesh and at isolated pockets in Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Odisha. Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh saw moderate fog.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), rain and thunderstorm are expected over Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi and Uttar Pradesh during January 16 and 17.

Featured image credit: Jonathan Griffith/Flickr