MANSEHRA/UPPER DIR: A man died and his brother suffered critical injuries when an avalanche hit them in Rashang area of Battagram district on Friday.

Mohammad Rangeen and his brother, Hamayun, were buried under the mass of snow when they were on the way to Allai to bring some goods for the family.

Local residents pulled the two out of the mass before shifting them to a nearby hospital.

However, Mohammad Rangeen died on the way to the hospital. The condition of Hamayun was stated to be critical.

Many roads in the upper parts of Hazara, including Mansehra-Naran-Jalkhad Road, have been closed to traffic due to heavy snowfall for around a week.

The roads’ closure has left scores of people stranded in Kaghan valley.

In Upper Dir, two women continued to be buried under an avalanche in Miana Khwar area on Friday.

The women were hit by the avalanche when they were fetching water from a spring.

The area has been receiving snowfall for many days.

Most residents have already moved to other places to prevent harsh winter.

Those, who have opted to stay put, said the area had so far received six feet snowfall.

They said the Pakistan Army’s engineering unit had launched work to clear snow from the major local road.

The snowfall has also blocked the only ground link to the landlocked Chitral. Hundreds of Chitral-bound passengers are marooned in Dir and Chitral due to closure of the road. Trucks loaded with food and non-food items for Chitral are also stranded on the road. The National Highway Authority allows vehicles to use the tunnel two days a week on every Saturday and Sunday.—Dawn Report