Monday, March 19, 2012 -
Drivers are now prohibited from driving on the highway that connects the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek from the country’s southern capital Osh.
The restrictions will remain in place until the end of the month, authorities said on Monday.
The measure was implemented due to the frequency of avalanches in the region in the past two weeks, the ministry of emergency situations said. Higher temperatures are causing snow to melt more rapidly, which is resulting in the large number of avalanches.
The road will be off-limits to motorists between midnight and 9 a.m.
Avalanches have cut off roads and tunnels in Tajikistan, which neighbors Kyrgyzstan. The city of Khorog, situated in the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), is completely cut off from outside contact due to avalanche activity, Tajik authorities said on Monday.
The main highway between Khorog and the Tajik capital Dushanbe is blocked due to snow.
Snow is expected to continue for the next two days, the local AsiaPlus.tj news agency reported.