DUSHANBE, February 28, Asia-Plus 28, Asia-Plus - Heavy snowfall and strong snowy storm have left two dead and at least two others frost-bitten in the Nosir Khusrav district, Khatlon province.   

According to the Committee of Emergency Situations (CES), two shepherds from the Komsomol jamoat in the Nosir Khusrav district of Khatlon, were killed and at least two others were frostbitten as heavy snowfall followed by strong snowy storm hit the area yesterday.

The source at a CES said that snowy storm also killed 2,000 head of sheep and goats and 30 head of cattle, as well as damaged some 20 greenhouses and some 3.5 hectares of farmland in the Nosir Khusrav district.  

The source added that it was just preliminary data and “it is still premature to speak about actual volume of damage and number of victims.”  The CES rescue teams are currently working in the district.    

A northwestern arctic cyclone turned a rain in some areas of Tajikistan into a heavy snowfall last Sunday, while temperatures dropped from 15 degrees above zero to minus two degrees Celsius.  Snowfalls with short intervals continued till February 27.