PESHAWAR: After heavy snowfall in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, rescue teams continued operations to evacuate those trapped by the snow, a spokesperson said on Saturday.
A large number of displaced families leaving Tirah in preparation for an operation in the valley were stranded in a snowstorm in Khyber district on Friday.
KP’s Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said in a statement that the rescue operations were ongoing for those trapped in the valley.
“Rescue 1122 has so far rescued more than 1,500 people and 350 vehicles and shifted them to safe places during the rescue operation, while more than 100 people have also been provided medical assistance,” he said.
Rescue 1122 teams conduct operations in the Tirah Valley to rescue over 1,500 people trapped due to heavy snowfall, in Khyber district on January 24. — photo via author
The spokesperson added that over 100 personnel and officers from Khyber, Peshawar, Mardan, Nowshera and Swabi’s Rescue 1122 divisions were participating in the operation.
In a later statement, Faizi said that the rescue operation had been ongoing for more than 36 hours.
“Despite the severe cold, sub-zero temperatures and difficult routes, rescue personnel are in the field and are carrying out rescue activities without interruption,” he said.
The Khyber district administration on Thursday suspended the evacuation of more families from Tirah Valley in view of the heavy snowfall, asking them to refrain from travelling to Bara until Friday evening due to the inclement weather.
Citizens advised to avoid travel to Murree
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) issued a statement requesting citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Murree in view of the weather conditions.
The statement said that the Murree Expressway was still closed; however, limited permission was being given to local people to travel.
“The latest weather situation and road conditions can be obtained from the Motorway Police’s social media accounts before starting the journey,” the statement added.
