WASHINGTON, Dec 17: Four members of a Pakistan family, returning from a condolence visit, were trapped in a snowstorm near Indianapolis and died, the local media reported.

Batul Abbas, 47, was returning home in Carmel, Indiana, from another county in the same state, when her vehicle slid off an icy road and crashed into a pond amid a winter storm. Mrs Abbas and her daughters — Shazreh, 18, Shaail, 14 and Azmeh, 8 —were taken to local hospitals in critical conditions late Saturday, where they died.

Hadi Abbas, Batul’s husband, was in Toronto on business when the accident occurred.

The family immigrated to the United States from Karachi in 1995. They lived in Houston before moving to the Indianapolis area six years ago.

The coroner’s reports of Batul’s and Shaail’s deaths showed they died from complications related to hypothermia.

The local police said Mrs Abbas, who was driving the van, had called for help from inside the van, which was submerged in water when officers arrived.

Eight agencies, including police, fire and dive teams, assisted in the rescue efforts. Those who knew the family described them as giving people who were deeply involved in the network of friends in the local Muslim community.