11 snow-trapped policemen rescued by ISAF

CHANGHCHARAN (PAN province, officials said on Wednesday.

A dozen 12 officials had gone for a week-long professional training, but one of them died due to severe cold after their vehicles got stuck in deep snow in the Tarbolaq area of Saharak district, Col. Khudadad, the district police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The police officers were returning when they were stranded in the area between Dolina district and the provincial capital. Khudadad said the dead official was head of the district intelligence department.

Before being trapped, the officials had taken refuge in a residential building on the way and were served with food by locals, the police officer said.

Col. Abdul Rashid Bashir, an official at the provincial police headquarters, said they had called for air support from foreign troops after their efforts failed to rescue the stranded individuals.

Subsequently, ISAF sent a helicopter to the area to airlift the policemen and the intelligence official’s body to Chaghcharan. Two police officers who were taken sick due to harsh weather conditions are currently being treated.

mds/ma/mud