• Efforts underway to recover people trapped under snow.
• Army team reaches spot to assist with rescue operation. 
• 26 people sustain injuries in the avalanche. 

At least 10 people were killed and 26 others sustained injuries when a snow avalanche hit the Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan on Saturday.

Confirming the report, Deputy Inspector General of Police for Diamer-Astore Division Tufail Mir said a control room has been set up in the district to facilitate rescue operations and recover people from under the debris.

Rescue teams have reached the spot and attempts are being made to recover people trapped under the snow.

Army helicopter and a team of doctors, ambulance and rescue teams have also reached the spot and attempts are being made to recover people trapped under the snow.

GB Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident and directed local authorities to initiate rescue operations.

Five out of 14 world peaks above the height of 8,000 meters are located in the region. In addition to this, GB has over 7,000 glaciers and often witnesses avalanches, landslides, and glacial lake outbursts.

In a tragic incident in 2012, at least 129 Pakistan Army soldiers and 11 civilians lost their lives when a massive avalanche hit their camp in the Gayari area, some 300km northeast of GB’s Skardu district.