46 avalanches occurred on March 8 and 9 blocking the Dushanbe-Chanak highway in some places, a source within the Branch of Innovative Road Solutions (IRS) in Tajikistan, which operates the toll on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway, told Asia-Plus Wednesday afternoon.
“The highway is temporarily closed for traffic. There were three cases when vehicles were trapped by avalanches. Fortunately, no casualties were reported,” said the source. “Over the reporting days, 50 vehicles were evacuated to safe places.”
Meanwhile, two avalanches blocked the Varzob River and it overflowed its banks and flooded an avalanche gallery on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway.
The work on clearing the highway of snow is under way.
Meanwhile, the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan says warmer temperatures have increased the risk of further avalanches and mudflows on Dushanbe-Khujand, Dushanbe-Sangvor, Dushanbe-Lakhsh, Kulob-Darvoz, Vanj-Khorog, Khorog-Ishkashim and Khorog-Murgab roads.
The Hydrometeorology Agency (Hydromet) says precipitation will continue in the country until the end of the week.
