CHITRAL/QUETTA — A catastrophic avalanche in Lower Chitral has claimed the lives of nine family members as a severe winter wave paralyzes northern and western Pakistan. The tragedy occurred in Serigal village on Friday, where a massive snow slide buried a home, leaving only one survivor. The incident headlines a weekend of weather-related chaos that has blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH) and plunged temperatures in Quetta to a bone-chilling -13°C.
Pakistan Winter Emergency 2026
- Casualties: 9 dead (Chitral avalanche); 1 survivor.
- Coldest Spot: Quetta at -13°C; Kalat at -12°C.
- Murree Status: 15 inches of snow; entry of new vehicles restricted.
- Major Blockages: KKH, Murree Expressway, and Lowari Tunnel approach.
- Next Forecast: New westerly wave arriving Sunday night (Jan 25).
You May Also Like: Travel Advisory Issued for Murree as Snowfall Brings Chill and Safety Warnings
Avalanche Buries Family of Ten in Chitral
The avalanche struck the isolated Damil area of Lower Chitral after 36 hours of relentless snowfall. According to Deputy Commissioner Hashim Azim, the victims—including five men and four women—were dining when their home was crushed. A nine-year-old boy was miraculously pulled from the rubble alive. The disaster highlights the extreme risks currently facing residents of high-altitude pastures where over 20 inches of fresh snow has accumulated.
Heavy snowfall in Tirah Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (north-west Pakistan, near the Afghan border).
Current situation:
– Continuous snowfall for the past few days
– Vehicles stranded between Bagh Markaz and Dawatoi checkpoint in freezing conditions
– Women, children, and… pic.twitter.com/zlZHLW24u9— Samantha Leaning (@samanthaleaning) January 23, 2026
Quetta Shivers at -13°C Amid Gas Shortages
Balochistan is currently facing the harshest night of the 2026 season. In Quetta, the mercury plummeted to -13°C, causing water pipes to burst and leaving thousands without heating due to low gas pressure.
- Ziarat and Kalat also reported temperatures between -11°C and -12°C.
- The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) successfully rescued 17 stranded people near Muslim Bagh, but warnings remain in place for the N-50 and other highways.
Logistical Collapse in KKH and Tirah Valley
Heavy snowfall has effectively cut off Gilgit-Baltistan from the rest of the country. The Karakoram Highway (KKH) and Baltistan Highway are blocked at multiple points due to landslides. In the Tirah Valley, the humanitarian situation for displaced families has worsened, with hundreds of vehicles trapped in snow. Rescue 1122 confirmed that over 100 people have been shifted to safer locations, but the suspension of the registration process has left many others in the open.
Official Warning for More Snow from Sunday
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a fresh alert. A new westerly wave is expected to enter the country on Sunday night, January 25.
- Impact Areas: Quetta, Ziarat, Gilgit-Baltistan, Murree, and Galiyat.
- Duration: The system will persist until Tuesday, January 27.
- Urban Rain: Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Lahore are likely to receive rain, while upper Sindh may see a significant temperature drop.
Check out our latest video:
