CHITRAL, July 1: Army helicopters launched a rescue operation on Sunday to evacuate people stranded in Sonoghur village, which was struck by a huge glacier on Friday.

District Coordination Officer Kamran Rehman Khan said some 200 people had been evacuated by the helicopters to the nearby Parwak village.

The glacier which swept 85 mud houses in the village 140km north of Chitral was still sliding, residents said. A basic health unit, a grain store and a girls’ middle school had also been damaged.

The official said relief goods, including tents and food, had been provided to the affected people and the rescue operation would continue on Monday to evacuate the remaining stranded people.

Torrential rains and flood have washed away several bridges and roads in the Chitral district.