Daily Times

CHITRAL: At least seven technicians were killed and another seven sustained injuries when an avalanche hit a workshop of the Korean company near Lowari Tunnel on Sunday, officials said.

The technicians were employed by the Korean company which was constructing the Lowari Tunnel to connect Chitral with the rest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The technicians had started their daily work of repairing the machinery being used in the construction of the tunnel when the avalanche hit the workshop, burying them alive.

Rescue activities were launched and seven bodies and the same number of injured were retrieved from the rubble.

The dead were identified as Rahmatzada, Jalal, Rahmat Ghazi, Haji Iftikhar, Kamran, Asif and Nadeem while the injured included Altaf Hussain, Zamrud Hussain, Qaiser Hussain, Shakil, Gul Alam, Bahadur Shah and Mujeeb.

Two of the injured were in critical condition and were shifted to Peshawar.

The rescue activities continued despite the threats of more avalanches and continued snowfall.

The district nazim expressed sorrow over the loss of precious lives and said that the administration should have taken steps for avoiding such disasters.

He asked the government to announce proper compensation for the victims of the blast as they were working in a difficult terrain.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority spokesman Taimur Ali said that specialised search and rescue teams consisting of the Pakistan Army, Chitral Scouts, police and local administration were deputed to carry out joint search and rescue operation, rescuing seven of the 14 alive while another seven (three from Darosh and four from Punjab) lost their lives.

Taimur said the PDMA-KP is in close contact with DC Chitral and all other DCs so as to closely monitor the situation.

The spokesman further added that PDMA control room is operational 24/7 and is in contact with all districts.

People from each affected district can contact PDMA control room on 1700 or 091-9223662 for guidance.

KP Chief         Minister Pervez Khattak issued directions to RRS Department Secretary Ahmad Orakzai and PDMA DG to immediately mount a rescue/relief operation in the affected area.

He expressed his grief over the loss of lives and gave directions to the PDMA and district administration to provide medical treatment to the injured.

At least 13 people were killed and 20 homes destroyed by avalanches and heavy rain which struck Chitral a few days back.