At least 14 people, including six children, were killed in an avalanche in Chitral's Shershal area on Sunday.
Chitral Scouts Commandant Col Nizamuddin Shah told DawnNews the bodies of 14 had been recovered from the debris. At least 25 houses have been buried and five houses have been completely destroyed, he said.
Six women, six children, and two men are among those killed, Col Shah said.
It is unclear how many people have been affected by the avalanche as yet.
Chitral district nazim Maghfirat Shah told that due to heavy snowfall in the area over the past two days several families had been shifted to safer locations. However, he added, some families had remained in the locality affected by the avalanche today.
Seven security officials were injured in a second avalanche that struck security check posts in Chitral's Arundu near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, police officials confirmed.
Due to heavy snowfall blocking the main roads, the injured could not be taken to the District Headquarters Hospital for treatment, police officials told Dawn. They were instead taken to smaller medical centers in the area.
Over a dozen people are reported dead and many others buried under snow as an avalanche struck a village near Chitral, rescue officials said on Sunday.
"13 bodies have been retrieved and many more people are feared buried under snow," Commandant Chitral Scouts told Geo News. He said according to unconfirmed reports at least five houses were destroyed and rescue teams have been dispatched to the area.
The Karakoram Highway was closed at many points due to heavy rains and snow that could slow rescue efforts in the area.
