Snow and heavy rain have killed 61 people in Afghanistan in the past three days, disaster officials said on Saturday, with a major road and power also cut in several provinces. The emergency department in the southern province of Kandahar said six children were killed when the roof of their home collapsed in strong wind and heavy rain on Wednesday. The Salang highway, one of Afghanistan’s main roads, has been closed, authorities in Parwan province north of Kabul said. The heavy snow and rain also destroyed shops and killed livestock in different parts of the predominantly rural country. “Snow and rain, when managed properly, contribute positively to Afghanistan’s environment and livelihoods,” the Kabul Times daily wrote in an editorial.
