29 People killed in Afghanistan Avalanche

At least 29 people were killed and several others were missing in an avalanche that struck villages in the eastern Afghan province of Panjshir overnight Tuesday, sources said Wednesday.

“According to our latest reports, 29 people died and 10 others wounded as a result of the heavy avalanche in several villages in Panjshir province at midnight,” Xinhua news agency quoted acting provincial governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri as telling the media.

The number of casualties in the disaster might rise, he said. “Dozens of houses were destroyed. Many villagers are still missing after the natural disaster. Rescue teams and police forces failed to reach all affected areas as roads in the province have been blocked by heavy snowfall,” the official said.

The mountainous province with Bazarak as its capital is located 200 km north of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul. Parts of Afghanistan have seen heavy snowfall over the past few weeks, with snow affecting some main roads and mountain passes.

Three women and a man were killed in the northern Takhar province while several children died in eastern Nangarhar province in incidents caused by heavy snowfall over the past 24 hours, according to officials. In the neighboring Parwan province, the mountain pass Salang was closed by authorities after avalanches blocked all pathways over the weekend. (IANS)