Avalanche, floods death toll reaches 278 across Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD, March 2 (KUNA) -- At least 278 people lost their lives and over 134 others wounded in the avalanches and flash floods across Afghanistan, said Ministry of Interior.
Deputy provincial police chief of central Panjsher province, Najimudin Khan told media that the death toll from a massive avalanche in a mountainous valley near the Afghan capital Kabul rose to 198 as rescue teams dig through the snow.
The machinery cleared the roads leading to the remote villages of the province allowing the rescue teams to uncover more bodies including women and children.
The avalanches and flash floods claimed loss of lives in Panjsher, Nuristan, Parwan, Takhar, Laghman, Nangarhar and Baghlan provinces of Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority said that avalanches caused by the heavy winter snow also killed hundreds of household animals and blocked roads connecting provinces.
Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan dispatched two-plane load of emergency relief goods for the people of Afghanistan affected by avalanches as instructed by the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Pakistan ambassador to Afghanistan, Syed Ibrar Hussain handed over the relief assistance consisting of essential food items, tents, blankets, and medicines to Chairman Afghanistan NDMA Mr Daim Kakar. (end) sbk.tg