LAHORE, (DNA) – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government authorities have initiated a search and rescue operation on Sunday, for at least seven people missing in the Upper Kohistan mountains after heavy snowfall in the region.

According to details, at least seven people had reportedly gone in search of precious gemstones in Spat Malli area in Upper Kohistan. The treasure hunters lost contact with their families after heavy snowfall covered the region and blocked routes leading to the mountains.

Deputy Commissioner Hamid ur Rehman has said that the rescue operation has been launched after families have approached the district administration for the rescue operation. The families of the lost treasure hunters had not heard from them for more than a week, sparking fears that they may be trapped or dying.

He informed that two helicopters of Pakistan Army Pakistan will also take part in the rescue operation, adding that the local guides will also help in the search operation.

The district police officer of Upper Kohistan Raja Abdul Saboor Khan told that the rescue operation was impossible without the availability of a helicopter as the area had received over 20 feet snow.

Last week Pakistan Army and Air Force rescue teams saved tourists stranded in heavy snow near Nathia Gali in an operation when they were sent in to support the civil administration.

In October 2018 Pakistan Army rescued nearly a dozen tourists from Deosai National Park in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

The tourists were reportedly trapped in Deosai after heavy snowfall hit the region on October 16 and roads became inaccessible. Some were domestic tourists while others were from other areas in the country.