160 people rescued from snowstorm, flood

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): About 160 people were rescued by security forces in Badghis and Laghman provinces after a snowstorm and a flash flood stranded their vehicles and submerged their homes, officials said on Tuesday.

Gen. Daud Shah Wafadar, Afghan National Army (ANA) commander in northwestern Badghis province, said around 110 people were rescued after their vehicles had been stuck at the Sabzak tunnel.

He said more than one meter snow was measured on the tunnel and some avalanches created problems for people and halted traffic flow in the area.   

Abdul Bais, one of the rescued passengers, told Pajhwok Afghan News over the telephone that they remained trapped in snow for five hours on Monday.

He said all those trapped yesterday could have died if ANA forces had not rescued them. He tanked security forces for risking their own lives to save others.

Separately, ANA troops rescued 50 people threatened by a flooded river in eastern Laghman province, the governor’s office said in a statement.

It added: “Around 50 individuals of four families were rescued by security personal after they got trapped by river water in Qargayi district and the individuals could have drowned.”

nh/ma

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