Islamabad: The death toll in an avalanche that hit a remote mountainous region in northwest Pakistan on Thursday last rose to 102 on Sunday, even as the Army and local residents continued rescue efforts for the third day.
An Army official leading rescue efforts in the avalanche-hit villages in Kohistan district of North West Frontier Province, 200 km from the federal capital, told media that the death toll had risen to 102 after more bodies were recovered from the snow.
Twelve people were also dug out of the snow today, officials said.
Local residents said they had to dig through 60 feet of snow at some places to recover the injured or bodies. Rescue efforts mounted by the Amy and the National Disaster Management Authority continued for the third day today.
Some 200 local residents, most of them students of seminaries, have also joined the rescue efforts.
At least 36 people were killed after the avalanche hit the hamlet early on Thursday last. With many houses still buried under the snow, military helicopters dropped food, stoves and other relief material for 250 families.
Some critically injured persons, including women, were airlifted to hospitals in nearby cities.
Key roads were blocked by landslides and several feet of snow, hampering relief efforts. The avalanche occurred after heavy rain and persistent snowfall in the rugged and hilly areas of Kohistan district.
The area is covered by snow for most of the winter. Parts of northern and northwestern Pakistan have witnessed heavy snowfall over the past few weeks, increasing the chances of avalanches.
Another avalanche in the nearby Chitral region killed seven people on Monday.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, February 21, 2010, 16:15