KHAR, Feb 14: Eight people were killed on Monday after several houses collapsed in different parts of Bajaur agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) , raising the death toll in rain-related incidents in the agency to 12 and in the whole of Fata to 40.

Those killed in Bajaur agency on Monday included two children and a woman. Meanwhile, avalanches and landslides have blocked the land route between Pakistan and Afghanistan via Ghachi Pass and Nawa Pass.

PESHAWAR BUREAU ADDS: A handout issued in Peshawar by the NWFP governor's Fata secretariat put the number of people killed in Bajaur in rain-related incidents at nine. The handout said that so far 42 people had been killed in Fata in rains and snowfall.

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Maj-Gen Mohammed Akram Sahi visited parts of Tirah valley to assess the damages caused by heavy snowfall. Col Zahid Hussain, in-charge of Inter-Services Public Relations Peshawar, told Dawn that an operation undertaken by the Pakistan army was in progress to rescue 24 soldiers and paramilitary troops who had gone missing a couple of days ago after an avalanche hit them.

The GOC met tribesmen and inquired about the foodstuff which was dropped by two helicopters in Tirah valley as part of the federal government's relief operation.