Tirah Families Struggle With Snowfall, Freezing Cold During Evacuation

Tirah Valley – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Families escaping their homes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley were left stranded on snow-covered roads on Friday as heavy snowfall and extreme cold tightened their grip on the region. The evacuation from Tirah’s Maidan area began on January 9 ahead of a planned operation, which is expected to last two months, while the rehabilitation and return of displaced residents is set to start from April 5.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), the Miraban–Tirah Valley Road was blocked due to heavy snowfall. The authority also reported widespread road closures across the province, including key routes such as Kaghan–Naran, Battal, and the Lowari Tunnel, leading to major traffic disruptions and leaving both locals and tourists stranded.

Snow accumulation has also affected roads in Buner, Swat, Chitral, Lower Dir, and Kolai-Palas districts. Authorities said efforts are underway to clear these routes using heavy machinery.

Meanwhile, a Rescue 1122 emergency official confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing in Tirah, with 103 personnel deployed from Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, and Khyber districts to assist affected families.

Over 25 vehicles carrying 65 people stranded in snow have been rescued so far, with the operation’s scope continually expanding, the official added.

Severe cold also led to multiple cases of hypothermia, particularly among children in Tirah, an official at the Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC) said.

At least 20 children have been shifted to HMC, showing symptoms such as shivering, fatigue, and low body temperature due to extreme cold.

Speaking to Geo News, HMC’s Dr Mohammad Mushtaq said that in some cases, children find it hard to breathe if they suffer from hypothermia.

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“Providing warm environments helps normalise body temperature and prevent further complications,” he added.

Special Assistant to KP CM (SACM) on Information, Shafi Jan, said that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was personally supervising relief activities in Tirah.

The KP CM paid a visit to a private medical complex in Peshawar to inquire about the health of members of a Tirah family injured in a fatal accident.

At least two children were killed and three others injured after their vehicle fell into a gorge while evacuating the valley.

CM Afridi assured that the injured would receive the best possible medical facilities and full support.

He also directed authorities to deploy additional machinery and personnel to keep Tirah roads open for the safe movement of residents.

The Pakistan Army also remained actively engaged in relief operations for families evacuating Tirah.

Army personnel rescued 20 stranded residents and moved them to secure locations during such an operation.

At the Tirah Administrative Complex, 200 beds were prepared to accommodate evacuees, while food, warm shelter, and other basic facilities were being continuously provided to the evacuating families.

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Severe snowfall and landslides in the valley also prompted the KP health department to establish an emergency ward at the HMC to manage medical and rescue operations.

The health department also constituted a Rapid Response Committee in Peshawar to oversee emergency medical services and distribution of medicines, while hospitals in Tirah have been instructed to maintain high alert and complete emergency arrangements.