A devastating avalanche struck a house in the remote Sareegal village of Lower Chitral, killing nine members of the same family. The victims included a father, his wife, and seven of their children. Amidst the heartbreak, a single child was rescued alive from the debris and has been shifted to a medical facility in Drosh for urgent treatment. The rescue operation was a massive joint effort involving the Pakistan Army, Chitral Scouts, Rescue 1122, and local volunteers who braved sub-zero temperatures and treacherous terrain.
In Lower Chitral’s Serigal and Demel Arandu, an avalanche buried a family of 10. Security forces rescued one child alive and recovered 9 bodies amid heavy snowfall, continuing emergency relief operations.#LowerChitral #PakistanArmy pic.twitter.com/XhIt94YBdy
— KP Corner (@KPCornr) January 23, 2026
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the increasing frequency of such extreme weather events as a “climate emergency.” He has directed all federal and provincial authorities to leverage modern technology to improve early warning systems for mountain communities. Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi ordered the immediate release of relief funds for the affected family and instructed the district administration to remain on high alert as heavy snowfall continues across the region.
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The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued a fresh weather advisory warning of a new western disturbance. More heavy rain and snowfall are expected from Sunday night through Tuesday, specifically targeting Chitral, Dir, Swat, and Shangla. Authorities have urged tourists to avoid non-essential travel to these upper districts, as the risk of further landslides and avalanches remains critically high.
