Home / Environment / Cold Snap Grips Pakistan: Lives Lost to Avalanche and Freezing Temperatures
Cold Snap Grips Pakistan: Lives Lost to Avalanche and Freezing Temperatures
25 Jan
Summary
- Avalanche killed nine family members in Chitral; routine life crippled.
- Balochistan homes became freezers due to power, gas, and water outages.
- Nearly 50 died from cold in Karachi, which typically has mild winters.
Pakistan is experiencing a severe cold snap, exacerbated by a government refusal to acknowledge it as a climate emergency, leading to loss of life. In Chitral, nine family members perished when an avalanche destroyed their home, while intense snowfall and landslides disrupted life in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Kashmir. Many households are enduring unannounced power and gas cuts.
Balochistan reported temperatures as low as minus 13°C, turning homes into freezing conditions due to power outages, suspended water supply, and low gas pressure. Karachi, a city unaccustomed to such cold, recorded temperatures below 7°C, with approximately 50 deaths attributed to the cold this month alone. Punjab appears to be the only province prepared for the ongoing weather system.
Medical professionals highlight the increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney complications due to the strain on the heart from cold. Conditions like chilblains, frostbite, and hypothermia are also prevalent and can become fatal without proper knowledge. The article emphasizes the urgent need for welfare-centric policies, including expanded shelter and meal programs, and calls for adopting international models for pavement shelters and drop-in facilities to provide immediate relief.
