CHITRAL, April 2: At least 55 people were killed and 15 injured when avalanches hit three villages here as the region remained in the grip of a severe snowstorm. As many as 40 people were buried alive under the snow when an avalanche struck Washich village on Sunday morning. Fifteen people were injured in the incident. So far, 26 bodies have been dug out by rescue teams of army, police, civil society organisations and local people.

The victims have been identified as Sher Wali, Khadija, Ayesha, Zuhra Bibi, Ghayas, Ashfaq, Ikhlas, Naseema Habib, Zanjina Habib, Nagina Habib, Noor Shahideen, wife of Noor, Ihsanuddin, Wasiuddin, Irfanuddin, Mansoor, Ikhlasuddin, Baseerat Ali, Gul Nisa, Noor Zarmast, Shazia Zarmast, Irfan Ahmed, Furqan Ahmed, Mohammad Sher, Mirza Bibi and Wahshi Bibi.

An ISPR press release issued in Peshawar on Monday said that 23 bodies had been recovered.