At least 35 people died while dozens more were injured as freezing rain and unexpected snowfall hit remote parts of Pakistan over the weekend.

Twenty-two children were among the victims, many of whom were crushed by landslides that buried their homes, disaster management authorities said.

Extreme weather conditionss hit the northern and western regions of Pakistan, blocking roads and destroying hundreds of houses.

Experts were surprised by the snow while Mushtaq Ali Shah, former director of the country’s meteorological department, attributed the unusual conditions to climate change.

He added that a light hailstorm that lasts “for a few moments” would not be so surprising, but it is unusual for it to last more than 30 minutes.

“As far as I can remember, it snowed lightly for a few minutes about 25 or 30 years ago,” he told the BBC.

Heavy rains completely destroyed at least 150 houses and partially damaged another 500, mainly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southwestern Balochistan province, authorities said.

Power has been completely cut off in some areas for several days.

The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provided relief supplies to the affected areas and announced financial assistance for the injured and the families of those who lost their lives.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said “mainly cold and dry weather” is expected in most parts of the country for the rest of this week, although some parts of Balochistan and Kashmir are expected to see “snowfall in the mountains”.