At least 61 killed, scores trapped as avalanches hits life in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir

The Neelum Valley area is the worst hit where 57 people were killed, while four others were killed in Rawalakot and Kotli areas, Ahmed Raza Qadri, Xinhua quotes a disaster management official of the PoK as saying.

"I am on the way to the affected areas of Neelum Valley, and what I am seeing on the road is massive cover of snow everywhere. It has not only wreaked havoc on some of the residential colonies, but also blocked the main thoroughfares, making it hard for rescue teams to provide fast rescue and relief services to the trapped people," Qadri said.