Winter settled heavily over the Hindu Kush by Rob McElwee
You may have heard of the term "The Stans". I've heard it used on the news so I'll refer to the same area - east of the Caspian sea, south of Siberia and west of the Tibetan plateau; six former Soviet countries the most mountainous of which share mountain borders with Pakistan.
It has been a harsh winter after years of drought. Although the benefit may be felt in the spring, that's a long-term view at the moment. In the east of Afghanistan, on the rising slopes, unusual cold and heavy snow has concentrated international relief effort to keep people alive.
Winter has settled heavily too over the Hindu Kush, the mountains that curve through Afghanistan and cut into Pakistan and Tajikstan. Northern Pakistan saw its heaviest snowfall in 30 years, the worst of it coming during the first two weeks of February. The heavy snow has devastated all three countries, literally crushing houses and buildings and burying communities in avalanches. Tajikistan alone experienced more than 100 avalanches in populated regions after two meters of snow fell in the mountains. Officials in northern Pakistan report that 270 have died in the snowfall and avalanches, and nearly as many more have been injured.
Still in the mountains but to the south is Kashmir. Politically dual-controlled by India and Pakistan, it has been cut off by avalanches for two days. 400 trucks are stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar highway because of landslides. Most roads in Srinagar are under half a metre of snow. More is forecast.
The rain already written about, (13th Feb Everton Fox), in southern Pakistan is part of the same winter weather system but this for the time being is over.
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