Bamyan, Daikundi people happy for recent snowfalls

BAMYAN CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of central Bamyan and Daikundi provinces are happy for recent snowfalls despite it caused road blockades in the two provinces and some other areas of the country.

Local Daikundi officials told Pajhwok Afghan News that heavy snow had been falling across the province since the last two days.

Mohammad Reza Mohammadi, director of public works of Daikundi, said that snowfall in the province had reached between 50 and 110 centimeters.

“Due to the snowfall in the last two days, all the roads of Daikundi have been blocked for traffic; there is 50 centimeters of snow in Nili city and 110 centimeters of snow in Kutal-i-Qunat Pass on the Daikundi-Kabul highway,” he said.

He said that efforts are underway to reopen Daikundi transportation routes, but added that the cleaning process was going slow due to continues snowfall.

Local officials say that Public Works Department was able to clear 401 kilometers roads from snow in Daikundi during the ongoing winter.

Hafiz Fath Mohammad Bashir, Daikundi information and culture director, said that people of the province were happy about the snowfall and hoped its falling would continue so it would help reduce drought in the province.

Haji Hanif, a farmer in Nili city said, “The snow is falling since the last two days, it has reached to around 70 centimeters.”

“Every time I leave the house, I pray to God for the snowfall,” he added.

He said that many his apricot and almond orchards have been dried as a result of drought, a problem that many farmers have suffered.

He said that he saw many orchards on Kabul-Bamyan highway which had been dried due to drought. He is hopeful that snowfalls would help reduce drought in the country next year.

Meanwhile, local officials in Bamyan also reported heavy snowfall and storms in the province, which closed all local roads.

The Department of Public Works in a statement said that efforts are underway to reopen Bamyan transportation routes. The source said that some roads in the province would be opened by tomorrow, Wednesday.

A number of Bamyan residents also spoke to Pajhwok Afghan News about the snowfall, saying that as a result of the drought in recent years, their crop yields have dropped dramatically.

Amin Danshiar, a resident of Waras district of Bamyan, said that about 50 centimeters of snow had fallen in the district in the past two days. He said that local residents were very happy for the snowfall.

Dawod Ahmadi, a resident of Yakawlang district of Bamyan, said that farms and livestock had been declined in the province due to drought.

He said that many people from Yakawlang district had been displaced to Bamyan city due to severe drought but now people were hopeful about the recent snowfall.

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