11 October 2004	Monday	25 Shaban 1425

CHITRAL, OCT 10: The year's first snowfall, which began on Saturday, has caused loss of livestock and damaged crops and fruits in the various valleys of Chitral.

A girl, daughter of Majid Khan, died in Singoor village when her house collapsed due to the snowfall and she could not get medical treatment as roads were closed.

More than two feet of snowfall was recorded, that turned the weather chilly. Thousands of passengers were stranded on both sides of the Lowari Pass and electricity supply was disrupted. Hundreds of cattle head grazing in the mountain pastures perished.

The snowfall caused heavy loss to maize and rice crops and apple orchards. NWFP Assembly member from Chitral, Maulana Abdur Rehman, talking to Dawn demanded that the government declare Chitral a calamity-hit area and take urgent steps to rescue the people.

He said rains had caused immense problems for the people, who needed help on an emergency basis. "I shall raise the matter in the ongoing session of the house to draw the attention of the government to it," he said.