Three roadmen of the Branch of Innovative Road Solutions Ltd (IRS) in Tajikistan, which operates the toll on the Dushanbe-Khujand highway, have been killed by an avalanche on the highway connecting Dushanbe and Tajikistan’s second largest city, Khujand.

The tragedy occurred Saturday (February) evening 72 kilometers north of Dushanbe.  The roadmen were clearing the highway of snow when an avalanche buried them. 

Three roadmen – Nekrouz Zuburov, Jaffar Yoraliyev and Fakhriddin Ashourov – were killed while four others were pulled alive out of snow by IRS employees, Daler Abdullo, a spokesman for IRS, told Asia-Plus in an interview.  “They sustained various injuries and are currently in hospital,” the spokesman said.    

According to him, the bodies of those killed by the avalanche were found and pulled out of snow only February 19.  

Mountains cover 93 percent of Tajikistan, and avalanches and mudslides kill dozens of people every year.

Tajikistan has appealed to diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited to Tajikistan for help in mitigating effects of recent natural disasters.