Frozen world at the Salang Pass

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN

03.17.2012

Courtesy Story

ISAF Regional Command North

By PRT PEK Public Affairs

SALANG PASS, Baghlan province – Multiple avalanches along the Salang Pass, which is a highly traveled road connecting northern of Afghanistan with Kabul, stranded hundreds of vehicles and left three people dead and more than 25 injured. The route of the pass reaches to elevations 4,000 meters above sea level in the Hindu Kush Mountains. Days of snowfall and the subsequent avalanches blocked the Salang Tunnel, leaving motorists trapped.

After Afghan guards of Salang Pass worked day and night to clear the road, Afghan National Security Forces were called in to help. The ANSF partnered with the International Security Assistance Force Hungarian PRT to free the trapped motorists.

On March 12, the guards of the Salang Pass, in coordination with the PRT, arranged a bulldozer to help the clear the roads. A convoy from the PRT delivered several tons of humanitarian aid consisting of food packages, blankets and drinking water to the workers and the victims on the scene. In addition, ISAF soldiers delivered mountain rescue equipment.

After three days of hard work in the snow and freezing low temperatures, the Salang Pass was opened in the early hours on March 15. The quick and effective rescue and clearing operations were conducted by the Afghans with assistance of ISAF.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2012
• Date Posted: 03.17.2012 02:01
• Story ID: 85397
• Location: MAZAR-E-SHARIF, AF