Avalanche destructions Officials directed to conduct damage assessment in Naran

PESHAWAR: Adviser to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tourism and Culture Zahid Chanzeb on Friday directed the authorities concerned to assess the damage caused by avalanches in Naran.

A handout said that upon receiving information about the incident, the tourism advisor contacted Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and briefed him on the situation. Following the chief minister’s instructions, he asked the district administration and Kaghan Development Authority to conduct a joint operation and dispatch rescue teams to the affected areas with modern machinery.

Shabbir Khan, the Director General of Kaghan Development Authority, informed the tourism advisor that the incident occurred due to the collapse of Ghamla and Chapran glaciers on the Jheel Road in Naran. He stated that despite facing numerous difficulties, some officials of a rescue team from the authority reached the area on foot.

The area’s deputy commissioner said that there was a delay in reporting the incident due to the lack of mobile network and other communication means.As per the available information, no loss of life has been reported yet, but approximately eight hotels and tourist huts have been affected by the glacier while rescue teams have been dispatched to assist.

Chanzeb expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the district administration and Kaghan Development Authority thus far and urged them to accelerate the clearance operation.