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Reuters

Agence France-Presse

Avalanches, flooding and harsh winter weather have killed at least 130 people in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan in recent days, as authorities struggled to reach people stranded by heavy snowfall.
At least 93 people died and 76 were injured across Pakistan – with several still missing – while a further 39 were killed in Afghanistan, according to officials in both countries.
Forecasts suggest more harsh weather is on the way.
In neighbouring India, at least 10 people were killed after several avalanches hit the northern-part of Indian-administered Kashmir.

Pakistani Kashmir was the worst-hit area, with 62 people killed and 10 others missing, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
In the picturesque but conflict-riven Neelum Valley in Kashmir, heavy snowfall triggered several avalanches, including one that killed at least 19 people.
“An avalanche hit their village, 10 people are still missing,” the SDMA said.

Frequent avalanches and landslides occur in Kashmir during the winter, often blocking roads and leaving communities isolated.
Authorities have shuttered schools, while several highways and roads were closed across the country’s northern mountainous areas, according to officials.
“The severe snowfalls and landslides in AJK have caused misery & deaths,” tweeted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, referring to the part of Kashmir controlled by Islamabad.

To the southeast, in Balochistan province, at least 31 people had been killed in separate weather-related incidents.
“Most of those who died were women and children,” said Mohammad Younus, an official with the provincial disaster management authority, adding that hundreds remained stranded.
Across the border in Afghanistan, more than 300 houses were either destroyed or partially damaged throughout the country, said Ahmad Tamim Azimi a spokesman for the Natural Disaster Management Authority.


“A cold snap, heavy snowfall and rains that started two weeks ago have caused damage,” he said, adding that most casualties were caused after roofs collapsed under thick snow.
Hardest hit were southern Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and western Herat provinces.
In Herat, seven people – all members of the same family and including children – died when their roof caved in, Azimi added.
Harsh winters often take a heavy toll in mountainous Afghanistan, and the country remains poor despite billions of dollars in aid from the international community.
Additional reporting by Reuters


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Pakistan

At least 130 dead as avalanches, heavy snow hit Pakistan, India, Afghanistan

A boy removes snow from his house in Neelum valley, Pakistani-administered Kashmir, on January 14, 2020. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa08125432 Afghan children standing on the snow pose for a photograph at an Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan, 13 January 2020. According to the ministry of health, at least 18 people died due to the freezing weather last week in Afghanistan. EPA-EFE/HEDAYATULLAH AMID

epa08126461 People walk on a snow-covered mountain path in Neelum valley, Pakistani administered Kashmir, 14 January 2020. At least 57 people were killed and several others were stranded when an avalanche hit villages in Neelum valley in Pakistani administered Kashmir. Many cities in Pakistan are experiencing unusual cold weather conditions during which regular daytime temperatures fall below zero degrees Celsius. EPA-EFE/AMIRUDDIN MUGHAL

Neelum Valley, in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, was hit by the avalanche. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Asia

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The avalanches have left many villagers stranded in Pakistan’s Neelum valley area, following heavy rain that also triggered landslides
Highways connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan are blocked, impacting the transport of essential goods into Afghanistan, where at least 39 have died



The harsh winter weather has forced schools to be shut, and blocked key highways into Afghanistan, affecting the transport of essential goods.


Kashmir

India

Natural disasters

At least 130 dead as avalanches, heavy snow hit Pakistan, India, Afghanistan

The avalanches have left many villagers stranded in Pakistan’s Neelum valley area, following heavy rain that also triggered landslides Highways connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan are blocked, impacting the transport of essential goods into Afghanistan, where at least 39 have died

The avalanches have left many villagers stranded in Pakistan’s Neelum valley area, following heavy rain that also triggered landslides

Highways connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan are blocked, impacting the transport of essential goods into Afghanistan, where at least 39 have died