JIRGATIOL, October 31, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Heavy snowfall blanketed much of the Jirgatol district, some 320 kilometers northeast of Dushanbe on the night of October 28-29 shutting down access to some villages.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the Jirgatol district chairman Aslonbek Abdurahmonov said that the storm that started Tesday night dumped up to 40 centimeters of snow on parts of the district.  The serious situation was in the Maydontirik and Pivkul villages, where the snow blanket reached 50 centimeters.   

“Even old residents of the district do not remember such heavy snowfalls in October,” said Abdurahmonov.  “However, we have made adequate preparations for the winter season and the population and all educational and other facilities in the region are provided with enough coals and firewood.”

Today, the temperature in Jirgatol is already above zero and snow began melting.