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| Nomadic family hit by an avalanche at Shontar Pass: 'Return for cattle after burying bodies |
The weather at Shontar Pass was very bad. It was raining and snowing. We tried to make a way for mules to pass, but it could not be done.
Muhammad Sulaiman, the head of the caravan of nomads who were victims of an avalanche accident in the Astur district of Gilgit-Baltistan, says that he decided to take 20 men, women, and children from his caravan along with livestock. I will go ahead while some people will stop with the mules and after the arrival of the caravan coming from behind, they will join them and make way for the mules.'
According to rescue officials, eight people, including a four-year-old child, have died and many others have been injured in this accident due to an avalanche.
Muhammad Sulaiman says that his two cousins, Abdul Hameed, and Muhammad Shabeer, were killed in the accident. Muhammad Shabbir was unmarried while Abdul Hameed died along with his son and wife Pari Bibi.
Muhammad Sulaiman said 'Whenever we nomadic people go on a journey, we stay in Rawat on our return where half of our family is waiting. Marriages are arranged before every trip and Muhammad Shabbir's marriage was also arranged on his return.
Muhammad Sulaiman said that we were all close relatives. My four-year-old cousin also died. Four women, two children, and two adults have died.
'Not allowed to stop at the nail'
The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority has issued a detailed report of the accident, according to which the avalanche occurred at 8 pm. The people of the Gujjar community who were hit by this avalanche were coming from Pakistan-administered Kashmir towards Astor.
The bodies of eight people who died in the incident have been recovered while the injured have been shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital Astor for treatment.
Muhammad Sulaiman says that he started his journey from Chakwal on the 10th of Ramadan.
Our return from the Gilgit-Baltistan area was supposed to be in August. There were 40 people in the caravan including children, women, and men. Herds of cattle and mules were also with us.
He said that small and big accidents happen, but such a fatal accident never happened.
Our journey was peaceful. When we were in Kashmir, we were talking that nothing happened this time, but when we reached Kiel, the incidents started with us.
"We were under pressure to leave Kiel immediately. If we had been allowed to stay in Kiel for a few days, we might not have suffered this accident.
Muhammad Sulaiman says that people in Kiel did not let us stop. Everyone told us to take out the goods and cattle as soon as possible, after which we proceeded toward Gilgit-Baltistan. As we neared the top of the Shwantar Pass in Astur, the weather turned bad.
He said that there was rain and light snow the last day and then during the night. "Normally there is neither rain nor snow in this season, so there was no way to pass through Shontar Pass."
They said that they had stayed only one night at Shwantar Pass and it started raining that night.
Muhammad Sulaiman said that we had to make a way through Shuntar Pass. With great difficulty, we made a way for small cattle to pass, but a way for mules could not be made. Then it was decided that I should go ahead with the cattle, some men and women, while the mules and the rest would make way with the caravans coming from behind, and we would meet in front.
He says that 45 mules were loaded with goods 'mules are very valuable and could not be left behind. The caravan continued to fight the rain, but for how long. After this, it was decided that some people should leave the mules and try to cross.
Muhammad Sulaiman said that some mothers and sisters picked up their children and brothers and reached down showing great bravery, while the rest were still preparing to descend when suddenly an avalanche fell. Eight people were buried on the spot.
'The mules keep coming'
Muhammad Sulaiman says that 'the people who reached down realized that our people have been affected by this accident.'
"We got this information at dawn, so I immediately reached the spot along with my colleagues."
He said that when he reached the spot, I did not see mules but heard their voices. I could also see my precious equipment from a distance. But it was a very difficult place. Despite his efforts, he could neither remove the mules nor lift the goods.
He said that after bringing down the four bodies buried in the avalanche, their bodies, legs, and arms lost strength.
Timely medical assistance saved the lives of four people
At the same time, rescue teams also started arriving and timely medical assistance saved the lives of four people.
Abdul Bari is a medical technician from Risico 1122 Astor.
He says that he was informed about the incident at 10 o'clock. After traveling by car for two hours and walking for two hours, four bodies were brought down.
He said that we saw that the situation was very bad. Some women along with their small children traveled in the darkness and rain to save their lives after the rains started. If they had not dared to make this journey, the loss of life might have been more and more children would have been killed.
Abdul Bari says that we removed the rest of the bodies together with the people who were already there. Eight hundred in total have been taken out. On this occasion, three seriously injured people suffered frostbite because the temperature was negative.
"The family members have not yet been informed about the actual incident."
Abdul Bari says that the three injured people had also suffered from a lack of oxygen. We immediately gave him oxygen. Warmed them with blankets and provided some essential medicines.
He said, "If we had been late for a few minutes, their lives could have been in danger."
Speaking to the BBC, Mohammad Sulaiman said that he had not yet informed the family members waiting in Rawat of the actual incident.
He did not even tell about the death of the two brothers. I am thinking about how to tell and what to tell, but I have to tell. When they will know the real incident, the doomsday will break, but even so, I have to reach Shontar immediately after burying the bodies.
They say that our mules are stuck in Shuntar Pass. Some people have left to look after the cattle. These mules are hardy and we hope they will be safe until we arrive. Otherwise, we will suffer a lot.