Heavy snowfall blocks Ghor roads

KABUL province, officials said on Friday.

The snowfall and rains that lashed several parts of the country since Thursday evening had resulted in the closure of several roads and highways.

The Afghanistan Natural Disasters Management Authority (ANDMA) regional head said so far 60 centimetres of snow has been measured in Ghor.

Hamidullah Dadfar said if the snowfall continued, it would create severe food shortages in districts, where roads had been blocked. He said if urgent measures were not taken, the situation could turn into a humanitarian crisis.

The provincial public works director, Mohammad Iqbal, said they had signed contracts with snow-clearing firms, who would start operations once the snowfall stops.

Meanwhile, the Salang Pass maintenance head, Gen. Abdul Rajab, told Pajhwok Afghan News trucks had been stopped in northern part of the pass due to heavy snowfall. There was 60 centimetres of snow in the southern part, he said.

More than 400 workers of his department were busy removing snow from the highway, which connects northern provinces with the capital Kabul, according to Rajab.  He asked drivers to use tyre chains and heating system.

In winters, heavy snowfalls on the Salang Pass lead to the death of many people every year. In Feb. 2010, 170 people died and 125 were injured as a result of heavy snowstorms and avalanches that hit the Russian-built tunnel.

frm/ma

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