Heavy snow, chilly weather claim 16 Afghan lives

Chilly weather and heavy snowfall have claimed the lives of more than a dozen people, including women and children, in Afghanistan's northern Jauzjan and Faryab provinces over the past couple of days, a local official said Thursday. "A total of 16 people including 14 in Jauzjan and two in Faryab have lost their lives due to heavy snowfall and freezing weather in Jauzjan and Faryab provinces over the past few days," an official with the department to deal with natural disasters in the northern region, Abdul Aziz Aymaq, told Xinhua. Three children and a woman are among the victims, he added. Scores of houses have been damaged and more than 1000 cattle heads have reportedly been killed due to the cold climate in the mentioned provinces, according to the official. The snowfall and cold weather which began on Saturday is still continuing in parts of Afghanistan, including the northern region and capital city of Kabul.