MANSEHRA: A man was killed and around two dozen others were rescued after an avalanche struck them while crossing over in Jalkhad area of Kaghan Valley on Sunday after escaping India shelling in Azad Jammu Kashmir.

“These people had left Shahdara area (AJK) and entered Kaghan Valley via Noori Top following Indian shelling in Azad Kashmir, but one of them, who was buried alive under the avalanche, died,” Shafiullah Khan Gandapur, the district police officer, told Dawn.

He said a group of 22 people, mostly traders from different parts of AJK, had crossed into Kaghan Valley through the Noori Top area when eight of them were trapped under an avalanche in Jalkhad (Kaghan Valley).

“We constituted a rescue team led by DSP Paras Khushal Khan, comprising personnel from the police, Rescue 1122, and the Kaghan Development Authority. They managed to rescue all individuals with only minor injuries,” Mr Gandapur said.

He added that two of the injured made their way back to their destinations via the snow-covered Noori Top, while the remaining survivors were shifted to Kaghan.

“All 19 rescued individuals, after receiving medical treatment in Naran, have now left for their respective hometowns,” he said.

The DPO said the deceased was identified as Gulzada, who had been working in the Shahdara area of AJK. He had taken the Noori Top route to avoid Indian shelling in AJK, along with others.

“All the rescued individuals were provided with medical aid in Naran before being sent to their destinations,” he said.

Meanwhile, two young boys drowned in a stream in the Hamshirian area on Sunday while attending a wedding with their families.

According to eyewitnesses, Adam Noor, 10, and his friend Khazim Khan, 12, had gone swimming in the stream and reportedly slipped into deep water.

Local swimmers and police launched a rescue operation and after several hours managed to retrieve the bodies, which were then handed over to their respective families.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2025