Chitral: Nine people of the same family were killed and a child injured when an avalanche struck in the Arandu area of Lower Chitral district.

According to Radio Pakistan, rescue teams from Rescue 1122 recovered the bodies of nine victims from the rubble, which included five men and four women. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives due to the avalanche in Chitral.

In their separate messages, they extended condolences to the families of the deceased, praying for the elevation of ranks of the departed souls. In his message of condolence, the President directed federal, provincial, and local authorities to speed up relief efforts in the affected areas and maintain communication with the public.

The Prime Minister directed federal rescue and relief agencies to accelerate aid operations in cooperation with the provincial government. The Prime Minister also instructed the Chairman National Disaster Management Authority to monitor the situation in the country's mountainous regions following the heavy snowfall and maintain close coordination with relevant agencies to manage potential emergencies.