Three tourists die after being trapped in snowfall in Upper Kohistan

Published October 13, 2019
The weather in Kandia valley suddenly became rough and snowfall trapped the tourists in the thick forest. — Dawn/File
The weather in Kandia valley suddenly became rough and snowfall trapped the tourists in the thick forest. — Dawn/File

MANSEHRA: The police and local residents recovered the bodies of three tourists who died after being trapped in heavy snowfall in Kandia valley of Upper Kohistan district on Saturday.

“The bodies of three youngsters, who were trapped because of sudden snowfall in Kandia valley, have been recovered and dispatched to their native area in Kalam,” Arif Khan Yousafzai, deputy commissioner Upper Kohistan, told reporters on Saturday.

The tourists sneaked into Kanida valley, a difficult and high altitude terrain from neighbouring Kalam area of Malakand division some three days ago on a creational tour, but the weather suddenly became rough and snowfall trapped them in the thick forest in the valley.

Mr Yousafzai said that three youngsters, including Aziz Ahmad, Safoor Ahmad and Inam Khan, all residents of Ashuran village of Kalam, had come to Kandia valley, but were trapped in heavy snowfall.

The families of missing tourists had urged the Malakand administration to seek help from Upper Kohistan deputy commissioner for tracing the missing tourists. The deputy commissioner had constituted a team of over 100 rescuers, including police and locals, who traced the bodies.

The district administration shifted the bodies to the police post at Thoti in the Kandia valley.

Also in the day, the body of district education officer, Kolai-Palas, was found in his room.

“The body has been shifted to hospital for autopsy,” district police officer Iftikhar Ahmad told reporters. He said that what caused his death would be cleared after the autopsy. He said that a pistol was found near the body of the district education officer.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.