19 people killed due to severe cold in Badghis

KABUL (Pajhwok): Severe cold weather this winter claimed the lives of tens of people and perished thousands of livestock nationwide, including Badghis province.

Abdul Salaam and Abdul Baqi are the two victims out of dozens in northwestern Badghis province who were died after suffering hypothermia this winter in the province.

A Total 19 people have been killed and over 26,000 livestock lost due to severe cold weather this season in Badghis.

Abdul Baqi, 70, the resident of Zad Saleh village in Qadis district, said when during the night he went out of his room the temperature was -26C and he suffered hypothermia.

Taza Gul, the wife of Abdul Baqi, told Pajhwok Afghan news when during midnight she woke up she saw that her husband was not in the room so she went outside and her husband frozen.

She said her husband was already struggling with poverty and there was nothing to heat up the room.

Nizamuddin, the smaller brother of Abdul Baqi, said when his brother’s wife called him he went to their house and sent Abdul Baqi to the doctor.

He said Abdul Baqi suffered hypothermia and on the way to the doctor he lost his life.

He said his brother was very poor and was forced to set a light to his clothes for heating up the house.

Muzaen, 10, who recalled her father, said his father still sent her to the school besides extreme poverty and bad financial condition.

It is not only Abdul Baqi, but Abdul Salaam, 50, from Qades district also lost his life to extreme cold.

Abdullah, the son of deceased Abdul Salaam, said his father was a farmer at one of the orchards in Herat province. He suffered hypothermia on his way to Herat province.

He said he and his family opposed his travelling but poverty and bad financial condition of the family forced him to go for the work.

Eidi Mah, the wife of Abdul Salaam, said she had nothing for eating after her husband had gone and no organization provided them with aid.

Although Abdul Salaam’s and Abdul Baqi’s families complained against being ignored by aid providing institutions but Director Natural Disaster Management Baredad Sabir said these families had been distributed with cash aid.

He said 19 people have been killed by hypothermia and added he visited seven families and they were provided with cash assistance. The remaining families will be also provided with aid, he added.

According to the latest figures 166 people have been killed due to severe cold and people suffered massive financial and livestock losses as well.

nh