Afghan Forces & Hungarian NATO military clear roads & rescue motorists from avalanches in Salang Pass

By PRT PEK Public Affairs

SALANG PASS, Kunduz Province – Multiple avalanches along the Salang Pass, which is a highly traveled road connecting northern of Afghanistan with Kabul, stranded hundreds of vehicles and left 3 people dead and more than 25 injured. The route of the pass reaches to elevations 4000 meters above sea level in the Hindu Kush Mountains. Days of snowfall and the subsequent avalanches blocked the Salang Tunnel, leaving motorists trapped.

Courtesy photo, RC-North Public Affairs

After Afghan guards of Salang Pass worked day and night to clear the road, Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) were called in to help. The ANSF partnered with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Hungarian PRT to free the trapped motorists.

On Mar. 12, the guards of the Salang Pass, in coordination with the PRT arranged a bulldozer to help the clear the roads. A convoy from the PRT delivered several tons of humanitarian aid consisting of food packages, blankets and drinking water to the workers and the victims on the scene. In addition, ISAF Soldiers delivered mountain rescue equipment.

After three days of hard work in the snow and freezing low temperatures, the Salang Pass was opened in the early hours on Mar. 15. The quick and effective rescue and clearing operations were conducted by the Afghans with assistance of ISAF.

Read more: http://ntm-a.com/wordpress2/archives/10125

Posted in: Afghan National Security Force, Afghanistan, Hindu Kush, Hungarian PRT, International Security Assistance Force, Kabul, Kunduz Province, Salang Pass, Salang Tunnel