At least 67 people have been killed and many injured by avalanches in Pakistan and India in the past 24 hours.

India and Pakistan are experiencing harsh winters with avalanches occurring in many areas, causing great casualties. The Pakistani government announced an avalanche today in a village in the Azad Kashmir region that left at least 21 people dead and 17 injured, bringing the total number of deaths in Pakistan in the past 24 hours to 57.

In neighboring India, at least 10 people died in avalanches in Jammu and Kashmir regions, including five Indian army soldiers.

Heavy snow left dozens of vehicles stranded on the main highway linking the capital, Quetta, Balochistan and the port city of Karachi in Pakistan.

Areas of northern and southwestern Pakistan as well as northern India are experiencing unusual cold and sleet this year with temperatures dropping to -20 degrees Celsius in some areas.

The Pakistan Hydrometeorology Department (PMD) forecasts snow showers will continue in the coming days. Cold weather forced people to take shelter in homes without gas and electricity for heating.

PMD warns that flooding and sleet in Balochistan could leave many roads paralyzed. The agency also warned of landslides in Kashmir, Malakand and Hazara.