166 nomads still missing in Deosai, rescue operation underway
Reported by Subkhan Suhail
Astore, September 7: : Some of the rescued nomad informed media at the District Headquarters Hospital about the hardships they had to face while they were stranded on the 13,000 feet high Deosai plain. They said that around 4 feet high snow has fallen on the Deosai plains and they were stranded for five days.
They said that due to the efforts of the district administration many people were rescued to safety in Chilim and other parts of Astore. They however, revealed that 166 nomads, including women and children, were still missing, waiting to be rescued.
#Deosai on 4th September 2014. Around 166 nomads are still missing after heavey snowfall. Photo Arif Hussain #Gilgit pic.twitter.com/ClsWQnRyGa
— pamirtimes (@pamirtimes) September 8, 2014
Eight injured nomads have been shifted to Astore, who were affected due to frostbite and severe cold. One patient has been shifted to DHQ Gilgit under critical conditions.
Deputy Commission of Astore told Pamir Times that the Pakistan Army and PRCS were helping the district administration in providing relief to the rescued people. He informed that an emergency medical camp has been established by the Pakistan Army at Chilim to treat the rescued nomads.
He said that no contact has so far been established with the rescuers who are searching for the missing nomads. He, however, informed that the so far there are no reports of loss of life.
It is pertinent to note that around 400 nomads who roam the Deosai plain breeding sheep and goats had gotten stranded after the roads were blocked by heavy snowfall.
