60 dead, hundreds missing as avalanche hits Nuristan village

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Sixty people have been killed and hundreds other missing due to heavy snowfall and avalanche in eastern Nuristan province, the governor said on Monday.

Hafiz Abdul Qayum told Pajhwok Afghan News an avalanche buried in entire Asfa Tol village in the Barg-i-Matal district yesterday, so far 53 bodies and 22 injured people had been retrieved from under the snow.

He said some 500 people lived in the village, and only 53 bodies and 22 injured had been recovered and the rest remained missing as yet. He expressed concern, saying the death toll might rise.

Meanwhile, he said, four members of a family were also killed and another member wounded in Mandol district due to snowslide.

According to him, a few days back a vehicle flipped in the same area due to rainfalls, killing four people and inflicting injuries on as many others.

Qayum said the heavy snowfall had created problems for people and had blocked roads to the Asfa Tol village and the assistance teams despite difficulties were making efforts to reach the scene.

He said the assistance teams and first aid would probably arrive in the area today through air.

A member of the council, Khalilullah Ghayur, said communication with 15 other homes in Barg-i-Matal district was also cut off. He feared there might also be casualties inflicted on people in the homes. More details would be released later.

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