Avalanche claims 12 lives in Badakhshan

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): Twelve persons were died and as many houses damaged as a result of a snow avalanche in Raghistan district of northeastern Badakhshan province, an official said Sunday.

Ahmad Javed Javed, a resident of the locality and member of provincial council, told Pajhwok Afghan News the avalanche destroyed two houses and left 12 persons dead including women and children in Kajlar locality of the district last night.

Two others were wounded in the disaster, he added.

District chief Mulavi Ghulamullah Sayed said efforts were on to pull out the bodies buried under the debris but no one could be pulled out due to heavy snowfall.

Sayed said the avalanche also damaged 10 houses but the residents were safely rescued.

Abdullah Humayun, director natural disaster management authority, said that aid distribution process could not be taken forward due to militants’ sway in the area.

He said the issue would be discussed with aid organizations and provincial officials to find a way out to transfer aid to the families.

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