MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): About 36 traffic accidents occurred on the Mazar-Hairatan highway in northern Balkh province during last two months, officials said on Thursday.
They say at least 12 people were killed and 17 others were wounded in these accidents.
Meanwhile, some drivers on the highway linked the accidents with heaps of sand carried by strong winds, substandard roads and lack of traffic signs.
Bismillah, a driver on the highway, told Pajhwok Afghan News he daily travelled on the highway and used to witness many traffic accidents.
He also called reckless driving, absence of traffic signs and heaps of sand covering the road main reasons behind the mishaps.
He asked the government to construct the highway in a standard manner and install traffic signs on it to prevent more accidents.
Jumaddin, another driver, said: “Sometimes fatal traffic accidents take place on this road due to sand brought to the road by strong winds. I want the government to permanently solve this problem by planting trees on the sides of the road.”
On the other hand, Izatullah Saboon, police commander at Hairatan port, told Pajhwok Afghan New about 36 traffic accidents took place on the Mazar-Hairatan highway during the past two months.
He said twelve people lost their lives and 17 others were injured in the mishaps.
The Mazar-i-Sharif-Hairatan highway is about eighty kilometers long and is considered one of the most important trade and transit routes in the country, especially in the north which connects Afghanistan with Uzbekistan.
kk/ma
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