Avalanche blocks Baghlan road, buries 10 homes

PUL-I- KHUMRI (Pajhwok): An enormous avalanche blocked a key road and buried 10 homes overnight in the Guzargah-i-Nur district of northern Baghlan province, but there were no casualties, residents said on Tuesday.

The road blockade disconnected residents of Khalifa Juma, Dasht-i-Khasa and Mirdad villages from the district centre.

The avalanche rolled down from a mountain into Khalifa Juma village, burring 10 homes on Monday night. No one got trapped because residents had already vacated their homes before the avalanche struck.

About 1,500 families live in these villages. They fear an acute food shortage and no access to healthcare services could further their problems if the road is not cleared of snow.

Khudaidad, a resident of Khalifa Juma village, told Pajhwok Afghan News the avalanche buried 10 houses and residents were aware of the snow massing on mountains and had vacated their homes. Residents were busy removing snow from their houses.

Mohammed Aziz, another resident, said the avalanche had blocked about 500 metres portion of the road. “People cannot clear the road alone, authorities should help,” he added.

Acting Deputy Governor Abdul Qadeem Niazai said they were ready to deal with natural disasters like avalanches and flood. He said residents of the avalanche-hit villages had been provided money and a vehicle to remove the snow from the road.

Last winter, six persons, including a woman and a child, were killed and four others injured an avalanche swept away three passenger vehicles in Khinjan district on the Salang highway.

aj/ma

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