Heavy snow cuts 2 districts off from Sar-i-Pul city

SAR-I-PUL (Pajhwok): Heavy snowfall has blocked the Qam Kotal road connecting two districts with the capital of northern Sar-I-Pul province over the past four days and snow-clearing machines are yet to reach the area due to insecurity, residents and local officials said on Thursday.

The blockade has disconnected residents of Sancharak and Balkhab districts from Sar-I-Pul city.Mohammad Ali Akhlaqi, a resident of Balkhab district, told Pajhwok Afghan News the road was blocked by a snowstorm four days ago.

He said residents of the district would run out of essential items if the government did not clear the road of snow in a timely manner.

A provincial council member, Mohammad Hussain Mujahidzada, also expressed his concern over the blockade and said people of Balkhab district used to transfer their patients to the provincial capital and Sancharak district through the road. He said a hospital was available in Balkhab but it could not cater to the needs of all patients.

Public Works Director Zalmai Rahimi said they needed security forces’ support to shift snow-cleaning machines from Sar-I-Pul to the road blockade site.

He said security forces were currently busy carrying out operations against Taliban militants in Sayad district and some other areas of the province, thus the machines could not be transferred to the blocked passage.

Rahimi said they were trying to send the machines to the snow-hit area and open the road for traffic as soon as possible.

Pajhwok tried to contact the provincial police chief about the issue, but failed.

mds/ma