TIRAH: Families fleeing their homes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley faced severe hardships on Friday as heavy snow and freezing weather conditions caused roads to become impassable. Many residents found themselves stranded on snow-covered routes amid ongoing rescue efforts.
The evacuation process, which began on January 9 in the Maidan area of Tirah ahead of a planned military operation, is expected to last around two months, with the resettlement phase set to start on April 5. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) reported that the Miraban-Tirah Valley Road was blocked due to heavy snowfall, disrupting transportation.
PDMA also confirmed that multiple routes across KP including those in Kaghan-Naran, Battal, and the Lowari Tunnel—were closed, leading to traffic disruptions and leaving both locals and tourists stranded. Snow accumulation has affected roads in districts such as Buner, Swat, Chitral, Lower Dir, and Kolai-Palas, with efforts underway to clear the routes using heavy machinery.
Rescue teams, comprising 103 personnel from districts like Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, and Khyber, are actively engaged in rescue operations. So far, over 25 vehicles carrying 65 stranded individuals have been rescued, with rescue efforts ongoing and the scope expanding.
The extreme cold has also resulted in multiple hypothermia cases, particularly among children. An official from Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) confirmed that at least 20 children suffering from symptoms such as shivering, fatigue, and dangerously low body temperatures have been admitted. Dr. Mohammad Mushtaq from HMC noted that some children have difficulty breathing due to hypothermia and stressed the importance of providing warm environments to stabilize their conditions.
The Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Information, Shafi Jan, stated that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is personally overseeing the relief operations in Tirah. The CM recently visited a private medical facility in Peshawar to check on the health of a Tirah family involved in a fatal accident, where at least two children lost their lives after their vehicle plunged into a gorge during evacuation. The CM assured full medical support for the injured and instructed authorities to deploy additional machinery and personnel to keep roads accessible for safe movement.
The Pakistan Army continues to play an active role in relief efforts, rescuing 20 residents stranded in the snow and relocating them to safe locations. At the Tirah Administrative Complex, arrangements have been made to accommodate 200 evacuees with provisions of food, warm shelter, and other essential facilities.
Severe weather conditions including heavy snowfall and landslides have also led the KP health department to establish an emergency ward at Hayatabad Medical Complex for medical and rescue operations. A Rapid Response Committee has been formed in Peshawar to coordinate emergency medical services and medicine distribution. Hospitals in Tirah have been instructed to remain on high alert and ensure comprehensive emergency preparedness during this critical period.
