Media Monitoring Report Cold Wave in Pakistan 13-21 January 2020

Please find below news articles published in English dailies of Pakistan and other international media (BBC, Insider, CNN, Telegraph, Aljazeera) highlighting the ongoing extreme cold weather in Balochistan and other regions. A total of 33 articles are spotted during this reporting period.

Date Newspaper Description 21 Jan URDU POINT WFP Moves with Relief Goods for Calamity-hit Areas Of AJK

MIRPUR: A three-member delegation of World food Program (WFP) headed by its Country Director for Pakistan Mr. Finbur Monday called on Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Farooq Haider Khan in the Federal capital on Monday, it was officially said. Read the complete story @ https://www.urdupoint.com/en/kashmir/wfp- moves-with-relief-goods-for-calamity-hit-814851.html 21 Jan BUSINESS RECORDER NDMA chairman visits snowfall-hit areas of Balochistan

Chairman NDMA Lt General Muhammad Afzal has visited the rains and snowfall affected areas of Balochistan on Monday. Director General Provincial Disaster Management Authority Imran Zargun briefed the chairman on the losses and damages caused by recent spell of rains and snowfall in the Balochistan province. Read the complete story @ https://www.brecorder.com/2020/01/21/563382/ndma-chairman-visits- snowfall-hit-areas-of-balochistan/ 21 Jan URDU POINT Rain With Snowfall Likely At Isolated Places In Upper KP,GB,Kashmir:MET Office

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2020 ) :Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Tuesday forecast rain and snowfall over mountains at isolated places in upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan during next 24 hours. Read the complete story @ https://www.urdupoint.com/en/weather/rain- with-snowfall-likely-at-isolated-places-815626.html 21 Jan PAKISTAN OBSERVER NDMA announces relief package for Balochistan rain, snowfall affectees

Quetta: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal on Monday announced the prime minister’s relief package for the rain and snowfall affected areas of Balochistan. Balochistan Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Imran Zargun briefed the chairman on the losses and damages caused by recent rain spell and snowfall in the province during his visit to the affected areas, a press release said. Read the complete story @ https://pakobserver.net/ndma-announces-relief- package-for-balochistan-rain-snowfall-affectees/ 21 Jan NATION Mercury goes down to minus 20 in Skardu, surrounding area

SKARDU/Quetta - After recent snowfall, Gilgit-Baltistan region hit by a very cold weather as mercury dropped to minus 20 Celsius in city area of Skardu, the met office said on Monday.

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Read the complete story @ https://nation.com.pk/21-Jan-2020/mercury-goes- down-to-minus-20-in-skardu-surrounding-area 21 Jan DAWN NEWS Rain and snowfall at Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir and Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Parts of Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Kashmir and northeastern Balochistan have received rain and snowfall again, ARY News reported on Tuesday. Read the complete story @ https://arynews.tv/en/snowfall-gilgit-baltistan- kashmir-balochistan/ 21 Jan DAWN NEWS NDMA announces relief package for people affected by rain, snowfall in Balochistan

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal on Monday announced the prime minister's relief package for the rain and snowfall affected areas of Balochistan. Read the complete story @ https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1615326/pakistan 20 Jan EXPRESS TRIBUNE Army rescues 22 students stranded for five days in G-B snowfall

The Pakistan Army rescued 22 students who had been stranded in a snow-hit area of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) for the last five days, said a statement issued by the military’s media wing on Monday. Read the complete story @ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2140948/1-army- rescues-22-students-stranded-five-days-g-b-snowfall/ 19 Jan ARAB NEWS KSRelief dispatches winter kits to Neelum Valley

ISLAMABAD: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) will dispatch warm clothes and winter kits to Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir on Monday to help the residents of the area who were suffering from harsh weather conditions, said the organization’s officials. Read the complete story @ https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1615326/pakistan 15 Jan INSIDER Devastating photos show the effects of snowy avalanches and landslides in Kashmir that killed at least 76

At least 76 people have died in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the Associated Press (AP) cited local minister for disaster management, Ahmad Raza Qadri, as saying. Read the complete story @ https://www.insider.com/kashmir-avalanche- landslides-deaths-reported-photos-2020-1 15 Jan CNN At least 77 killed and 94 injured after avalanches bury homes in Pakistan

(CNN)At least 77 people have been killed and 94 injured in northeast Pakistan after a series of avalanches destroyed and buried houses. The avalanches were triggered by heavy snowfall in the Neelum Valley, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to local authorities. Read the complete story @ https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/15/asia/kashmir-pakistan-avalanche-intl- hnk/index.html 15 Jan GEO NEWS PM Imran visits AJK as death toll due to snowfall, landsliding reaches 100 across country

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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday and visited the Combined Military Hospital in capital Muzaffarabad to inquire after the injured as the death toll from an avalanche that had struck the area a day earlier rose to 76. Read the complete story @ https://www.geo.tv/latest/267452-pm-imran- visits-ajk-as-death-toll-from-neelum-valley-avalanche-rises-to-73 15 Jan INTERNATION THE Death toll from Neelum Valley avalanche rises to 73 NEWS The death toll from a devastating avalanche in the Neelum Valley in Azad Kashmir rose to 73 on Wednesday as more bodies were recovered from the rubble, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) notified. Read the complete story @ https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/598875- death-toll-from-neelum-valley-avalanche-rises-to-73 14 Jan BBC Kashmir avalanches and landslides leave 62 people dead

At least 62 people have been killed and more are missing after avalanches and landslides hit Pakistan-administered Kashmir over the past three days. Read the complete story @ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51104299 14 Jan THE TELEGRAPH Avalanches kill dozens in Kashmir

At least 55 people were killed when avalanches tore through Pakistan- administered Kashmir, bringing the death toll from a severe winter weather in Afghanistan and Pakistan to more than 130.Read the complete story @ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/01/14/avalanches-kill-least-55- kashmir/ 14 Jan DAWN 30 dead, houses cave in as snow, rain set new record

QUETTA: Severe winter weather has struck parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with heavy snowfall, rains and flash floods that left at least 54 people dead, officials said Monday as authorities struggled to clear and reopen highways and evacuate people to safer places. Read the complete story @ https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/598327-30- dead-houses-cave-in-as-snow-rain-set-new-record 14 Jan TIME Avalanches Kill 70 More People in Pakistan and Afghanistan

(MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan) — Severe winter weather has claimed more lives as avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall killed 55 people in Pakistan-administered Kashmir while 15 died in neighboring Afghanistan, officials said Tuesday. Read the complete story @ https://time.com/5764506/pakistan-afghanistan- snow-avalanche/ 14 Jan EXPRESS TRIBUNE Dozens dead as heavy snow, rain spell disaster in Pakistan

QUETTA / PESHAWAR / MUZAFFARABAD: At least 41 people have died across Pakistan as the country remains in the icy grip of a freezing cold snap with Balochistan and Azad Kashmir being the worst hit regions where heavy snow plummeted temperatures, clogged roads, snarled travel and brought life to a standstill. Read the complete story @ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2136533/1-30-die- nationwide-cold-snap-bites/

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14 Jan INTERNATIONAL THE Chief Minister Punjab phones Balochistan CM NEWS The Punjab government is ready to help the affected people of Balochistan along with the provision of necessary cooperation in relief activities. We will not leave our affected brethren alone in this critical moment as helping them is our responsibility, he added. Usman Buzdar expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the loss of lives and property in Balochistan. He extended sympathies to the bereaved families and prayed for early recovery of the injured. Read the complete story @ https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/598156-chief- minister-punjab-phones-balochistan-cm 14 Jan ARY NEWS Heavy rain, snowfall leaves 21 dead in Balochistan

QUETTA: At least 21 people were killed and several others wounded in the rain and snow-related incidents across the Balochistan province, ARY News reported. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has imposed emergency in 7 districts of Balochistan following continuous heavy rain and snowfall. The PDMA has declared an emergency in Ziarat, Harnai, Pishin, Mastung, Qila Abdullah and Kech districts of Balochistan.

Read the complete story @ https://arynews.tv/en/21-dead-balochistan- snowfall/ 14 Jan DAILY TIMES Severe weather in Afghanistan, Pakistan leaves 43 dead

Severe winter weather has struck parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with heavy snowfall, rains and flash floods that left at least 43 dead, officials said Monday as authorities struggled to clear and reopen highways and evacuate people to safer places. Read the complete story @ https://dailytimes.com.pk/538647/severe- weather-in-afghanistan-pakistan-leaves-43-dead/ 14 Jan DAILY TIMES Snowfall, heavy rains bring life to a standstill in Balochistan, KP, GB

Life in many areas of Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has come to a standstill as Siberian winds wreaked havoc whereas various cities in Punjab also witnessed torrential downpour on Monday. Read the complete story @ https://dailytimes.com.pk/538651/snowfall- heavy-rains-bring-life-to-a-standstill-in-balochistan-kp-gb/ 14 Jan BUSINESS RECORDER Rains in Balochistan: Punjab CM lends a helping hand to affected people

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Monday contacted Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and extended full cooperation for the assistance of people affected due to torrential rains and snowfall in Balochistan. Read the complete story @ https://www.brecorder.com/2020/01/14/561439/rains-in-balochistan- punjab-cm-lends-a-helping-hand-to-affected-people/ 14 Jan GEO NEWS Hundreds stuck in harsh weather as snowfall wreaks havoc in Balochistan

QUETTA: Levies officials said that more than 300 passengers were stranded in Kan Mehtarzai area of Killa Saifullah district, where temperatures dipped to as low as -14 degrees Celcius while heavy snowfall and strong winds almost buried cars on the main National Highway.

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Read the complete story @ https://www.geo.tv/latest/267171-balochistan- heavy-snow-causes-14-casualties-passenger-coaches-stranded-in-kan- mehtarzai 13 Jan DUNYA NEWS 34 dead as heavy snowfall, rain ravage country

LAHORE (Dunya News) – Severe winter has struck parts of Pakistan, with heavy snowfall, rains and flash floods killiling at least 34 people across the country. According to details, 17 people have died in Quetta while 13 others have sustained injures in the past 24 hours, mostly when roofs collapsed amid blizzard. The casualties include children and women. Authorities also struggled to clear and reopen highways and evacuate people to safer places. Read the complete story @ https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/527746-dead- heavy-snowfall-rain-ravage-country 13 Jan URDU POINT AJK Prime Minister For Immediate Rescue Operation In Torrential Rains Hit Areas

MIRPUR (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jan, 2020 ) : Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan Monday directed the authorities concerned to start immediate rescue operation in the rains affected areas of the state. Read the complete story @ https://www.urdupoint.com/en/kashmir/ajk- prime-minister-for-immediate-rescue-opera-809243.html 13 Jan GEO NEWS Chitral disconnected from other parts of country due to heavy snowfall

PESHAWAR: Chitral has been disconnected from rest of the country as heavy snowfall continued and the main road of the district has been blocked due to avalanche near Lowari Tunnel at Baradam area. Read the complete story @ https://www.geo.tv/latest/267195-chitral- disconnected-from-other-parts-of-country-due-to-heavy-snowfall 13 Jan NEWS THE Heavy snowfall disconnects Chitral from other parts of country INTERNATIONAL PESHAWAR: Heavy snowfall in Chitral has disconnected the district from the rest of the country as the main road has been blocked due to an avalanche near the Lowari Tunnel at Baradam area. Read the complete story @ https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/597979- heavy-snowfall-disconnects-chitral-from-other-parts-of-country 13 Jan GEO NEWS Balochistan: More than 200 vehicles stranded due to heavy snowfall

QUETTA: At least 14 people died across Balochistan due to heavy rains and snowfall-related incidents, while more than 200 cars and passenger coaches are still stranded in Killa Saifullah district’s Kan Mehtarzai area. Read the complete story @ https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/597974- balochistan-more-than-200-vehicles-stranded-due-to-heavy-snow 13 Jan GEO NEWS In pictures: Heavy snowfall cripples life across Balochistan

QUETTA: Life came to a standstill across Balochistan due to heavy rain and snowfall on Monday with the provincial government imposing emergency in seven districts. The heavy snowfall led to 14 casualties, while over 200 vehicles were stranded in certain areas of the province. Read the complete story @ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2135615/1-rain- heavy-snowfall-paralyse-life-various-parts-country/

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13 Jan URDU POINT Excessive Rainfalls Is Beneficial For Winter Crops, Water Reserves In Dams: PMD

QUETTA: Life came to a standstill across Balochistan due to heavy rain and snowfall on Monday with the provincial government imposing emergency in seven districts. The heavy snowfall led to 14 casualties, while over 200 vehicles were stranded in certain areas of the province. Read the complete story @ https://www.urdupoint.com/en/weather/excessive-rainfalls-is-beneficial- for-winter-808568.html 13 Jan ALJAZEERA Heavy rains, snowfall leave dozens dead in Pakistan, Afghanistan

Severe winter weather has struck parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, with heavy snowfall, rains and flash floods that killed at least 43 people, officials said as authorities struggled to clear and reopen highways and evacuate people to safer places. Read the complete story @ https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/heavy- rains-snowfall-leave-dozens-dead-pakistan-afghanistan- 200113080705902.html 13 Jan DW NEWS Snowstorms leave scores dead in Afghanistan, Pakistan

Severe winter weather has hit parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, leaving at least 43 people dead, blocking roads and forcing airports to cancel flights. Read the complete story @ https://www.dw.com/en/snowstorms-leave- scores-dead-in-afghanistan-pakistan/a-51979467

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