GILGIT: Two private employees of National Accountability Bureau, Gilgit-Baltistan chapter, on Wednesday attacked the house of NAB`s deputy director in Gilgit, besides setting a podion of the building on fire.

An official at Jutial police station told Dawn on condition of not mentioning his name that NAB deputy director coordination Abdul Majid was asleep when his house was attacked by two assailants. The attack took place around 7.45am. No injuries were reponed.

Police registered a case against two alleged attackers.

According to official sources at NAB, chemical was used to set the house on fire.

Abdul Majeed is known as competent and honest officer, who was recently posted to Gilgit. He is investigating impodant corruption cases.

When contacted, SSP Gilgit Rana Mansoorul Haq said two accused in the case were arrested soon after the incident and weapons were recovered from their possession.

`The two persons involved in the firing and setting the house on fire are private employees of NAB, said the police officer.

According to SHO Syed Murtaza Shah, the assailants fired shots inside the house through a window, and set a ponion of the house on fire, and then fled from the area.

However, the NAB deputy director and other people in the house remained unhun, he said.

SNOW AVALANCHE: A snow avalanche hit Arando village in Shigar district on Wednesday, killing 40 cattle, destroying a house and forcing the residents to shift to safer places.

Repons said that scores of livestock were still trapped under the deep snow.

Commissioner Baltistan Division Asim Ayub said that a rescue team had left for the avalanche-hit village on foot, which is expected to reach the village in two to three days due to blockade of roads.

According to locals the village received 10 feet of snow during the last three days, triggering avalanches.

The commissioner said he had requested a chopper from the army for carrying out rescue and relief operation.

Fears of shortage of essential commodities are looming as the Baltistan division is cut off from rest of the world for days owing to snow-covered roads. Tourists are also stranded in the hilly areas of the region amid dearth of food items and medicines.

Continuous snowfall and severe weather conditions have disrupted flights between Islamabad and GB.-Correspondent