UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned Tuesday’s attack in Kohistan in which gunmen killed 18 shias after ordering them off a bus on the Islamabad-Gilgit route.
The secretary general extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the ‘abhorrent attack,’ as well as to the government of Pakistan, according to a statement issued by his spokesperson. “The United Nations stands by Pakistan in its efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism and extremism, which continues to claim the lives of so many Pakistanis,” the statement added.

Concerning another incident, the Pakistani government on Wednesday condemned in strongest terms the killing of a Chinese national in Peshawar. “We condole with the family of the deceased. Every effort will be made to investigate this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said a Foreign Office statement. The Foreign Office spokesperson said the government of Pakistan attaches high importance to the security and safety of Chinese nationals in Pakistan. app

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Avalanche at Dasu (Kohistan) engulfs the valleys. 102 died, several injured.

Kandia a small settlement of Dassu in District Kohistan was engulfed by a terrible avalanche on the weekend. 102 people were killed and several other were reportedly injured. There were almost 50  people still trapped under the pile of ice and debris to be rescued. The terribly rough terrain and  extreme weather hinders the rescuers to come to their aid. The rescue team of Naitonal Disaster Mangement Authority has been able to air drop food and other stuff for the affectees of the calamity. According to a British Newsper, there are 52 kids who lost their lives. 10 members of one unfortunate family were also among those who died.

Those under the debris are provided with food through a small hole. Additional snow fall, rain or scorching heat thought to possibly  endanger the lives of the stranded people. Sources call it a tough job to rescue the people but the operation is  under way and efforts are being made to save maximum number of lives.

The avalanche hit the area on Wednesday evening. Continuous rains and heavy snow-fall has blocked all the possible ways towards Kandia making it difficult to anybody striving to come to an aid.

Karim Kaka Khail, a hotelier from Kamila, Dasu has contributed to this report.