Tajikistan’s emergency management authorities warn of avalanche risk in mountain areas.  In case of state of emergency on the roads, you can call duty officer at the Committee on Emergency Situations and Civil Defense (CoES): 93 880 28 19; 221-91-19; and 223-13-11.

Heavy snowfalls in recent days have increased the risk of avalanches and rockfalls on the Dushanbe-Sangvor and Khorog-Ishkashim roads, according to the CoES press center.

“Yesterday, a series of avalanches and rockfalls occurred in Darvoz, Rushan, Shugnan and Ishkashim districts of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) as well as in Sangvor (formerly Tavil Dara) district,” Ms. Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for CoES, told Asia-Plus in an interview.

The work on clearing the roads of snow and rocks is reportedly under way.

Recall, torrential rain on January 7 caused a series of rockfalls and landslides that occurred in Shamsiddin-Shohin district (Khatlon province) blocked in three places  the main highway from Dushanbe to Khorog, the capital of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region.

The highway was temporarily closed for traffic because the work on clearing it of nearly 2,000 cubic meters of rocks and slurry was reportedly completed closer to the night of January 8.       

The emergency management authorities advise people not to travel to mountain areas unnecessarily.

In case of state of emergency or any accidents on the roads, people can call the CoES duty officer: 93 880 28 19; 221-91-19; and 223-13-11.