FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snowfall and freezing weather have claimed three lives in northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, a local official confirmed Saturday.
The tragic incident took place in Nawabad village of the Raghistan district on Friday afternoon, where three children traveling to another village lost their lives on the spot due to heavy snowfall and severe cold conditions, Provincial Director for Information and Culture Hekmatullah Mohammadi said.
Heavy snowfall and cold weather have also caused road blockades in some provinces, including the Salang Pass, the essential highway connecting the national capital Kabul to nine northern provinces and onward to Central Asian states.
Badakhshan province experiences severe cold and heavy snowfall annually, which creates significant challenges for its residents. ■
