ISLAMABAD – On Monday, Pakistan Army rescued 22 youngsters stranded inGilgit Baltistan following heavy snowfall.

According to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations(ISPR), 22 students of Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) wentto Rattu, district Astore, Gilgit Baltistan for skiing. However, due tounprecedented snowfall and land sliding in northern areas they werestranded for 5 days.

When the students didn’t return, the administration of LUMS contactedPakistan Army and requested to rescue the students. Chief of Army Staff(COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa took notice of the matter and orderedimmediate airlifting for the students.

Following the directives of COAS, a helicopter of the Pakistan Armyairlifted the students stranded in the Rattu area and brought them toRawalpindi. All students including 13 boys and 9 girls were rescuedsuccessfully, according to ISPR.

Last week, more than 100 people were killed after heavy snow, avalanches,and landslides in Azad Jammu Kashmir and Balochistan. Major highways androads connecting different cities were blocked. Pakistan Army has been busyconducting rescue and relief operations in AJK and Balochistan.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecasted snow in northernareas and parts of KP and Balochistan and rainfall in Punjab and UpperSindh. PMD says that cold weather will prevail in most parts of the countryfor the next week.

*Via: The News link*