Death toll in AJK to rise after serious avalanche hit the valley, fear locals.

ISLAMABAD -- The local community in avalanche-hit districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) fear that the death toll would increase further as the heavy snowfall had submerged a large area comprising small villages and towns.

Muhammad Saqlain, a native of Ath Muqam AJK told reporter that his paternal aunt's daughter had passed away in the avalanche but the family members were unable to reach for her funeral as all roads leading to Neelum District and other affected areas were blocked.

There was no food or any other amenity available to masses of the

disaster-hit area where Pakistan Army was dispatching food, medicine and other relief items.

"The Army is cooperating a lot to the local people as they are searching and rescuing people stuck in snow despite all odds and freezing weather," he added.

"It is in the culture of the AJK valley that people in the villages during extreme weather conditions gather in one house like four to five or more neighbourhoods gather at one home to spend night during severe weather," he added.

However, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had confirmed 105 total deaths across the country till date with 96 people injured and 1295 houses damages in Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to heavy snowfall and rain including AJK due to avalanche.

At present, 78 deaths were confirmed in AJK along with 56 injured and 202 houses damages in the Neelum Valley of AJK after a huge avalanche struck the valley burring the entire valley under huge mass of snow.

Moreover, a Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team of Pakistan Army comprising five members was also carrying out relief and rescue operation in the affected valley of AJK.

The total deaths in Balochistan were 20 with 23 injured and 1057 houses damaged due to heavy snowfall. In Khyber...