Cold wave leaves 20 dead in Ghazni

GHAZNI CITY (PAN and 12 children  have died in the Ab Band district of southern Ghazni province due road blockades and an ongoing cold wave, officials said on Sunday.

Snowfalls had blocked several roads connecting the district with the provincial capital, Ghazni city, over the past one and a half month, Sharifullah Sharifi, the regional council deputy director, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said eight women died during childbirth and 12 children and 400 livestock perished due to harsh weather conditions and road blockades in the district.

In southern parts of the district, people faced food shortages and if urgent relief supplies were not provided to them, more deaths could occur, he feared.

Provincial council’s deputy director said they had launched an investigation into the latest events taking place in the district.

Ubidullah Shiragha, a provincial council member, said roads leading to the Ab Band district had been closed due to heavy snowfall over the past one month. He said residents and tribal elders had requested them for food and drugs.

He added they would take up the problem with the public health department to ensure early supply of medicines to the district, 70 kilometers south of Ghazni city.

Mudassir, a spokesman for the governor, confirmed the road between southern and northern Ab Band district had been blocked, creating great problems for residents.

He said they were unable to confirm the casualties, but a probe would be launched to assess the situation.

Roads in several other districts have also been blocked due to heavy snow in Ghazni.

mds/ma

Views: 2