8 children killed, 1 injured as landslide hits KP’s Shangla

Published July 6, 2023
A rescue operation was underway on Thursday after a landslide struct KP’s Shangla district. — Photo by author
A rescue operation was underway on Thursday after a landslide struct KP’s Shangla district. — Photo by author

At least eight children died while one was injured after a landslide struck the Kuz Kaly area of Martung tehsil in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Shangla district on Thursday, officials said.

Shangla Deputy Commissioner Hassan Abid confirmed the death toll to Dawn.com.

“Eight bodies and an injured girl have been pulled out of the rubble and moved to the hospital,” he said.

According to Abid, a massive landslide had struck the area when the children were playing cricket and buried them underneath.

 Residents of Shangla take part in rescue operation after landslide strikes Kuz Kaly area on Thursday. — Photo by author
Residents of Shangla take part in rescue operation after landslide strikes Kuz Kaly area on Thursday. — Photo by author

He said Rescue 1122 teams had immediately arrived at the site to retrieve the children and an emergency had been declared in the Martunga rural health centre and Puran Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, where the bodies and wounded were shifted.

The official added that heavy machines had been engaged in the rescue work and residents also took part in the operation, which has now concluded.

“As per the KP government’s policy, the families of the deceased will get a compensation of Rs500,000 while Rs200,000 will be given to the injured child,” DC Abid said.

Meanwhile, residents of the area told Dawn.com that most of the deceased children, aged between nine and 14 years, were siblings.

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