GILGIT: The bodies of two youngsters killed by an avalanche in the Upper Naltar area were recovered on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122 officials, the bodies of Zubair and Riaz were recovered after a search operation that lasted several hours.

The deceased were between the age of 18 and 20 years and residents of Upper Naltar.

They had gone to nearby mountains on Wednesday to search for yaks and went missing after a snow avalanche hit the mountains.

According to Nomal police, the avalanche had hit the valley’s Khayot village, following which the boys were reported to be missing. Rescue officials, local police and volunteers took part in the search operation to trace the two boys.

GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan also took notice of the incident and ordered authorities to utilise all resou­rces in tracing the youngsters.

Their bodies were found under the debris left by the avalanche which were later handed over to their relatives.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2023