DUSHANBE/KHOROG, April 13, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- One person was killed Monday as a mudflow swept a heavy truck KAMAZ in the Shuroobod district, Khatlon province, according to the Committee for Emergency Situations (CES).

The source at a CES says the tragedy took place in the Obi Niyov area, Dashtijum jamoat, some 260 kilometers of Dushanbe.  “The mudflow swept the heavy truck KAMAZ that was moving from Gorno Badakhshan to Dushanbe,” said the source, “The driver Tolib Oripov was killed by the mudflow.”

“Besides, on the night of April 11-12 heavy rains caused flooding and mudflows that damaged 26 houses, eight bridges, 7.5 kilometers of roads, 600 meters of power transmission line and destroyed some 30 hectares of agricultural fields in the Tu-Tu and Balkhov jamoats in the Muminobod district, Khatlon province,” the CES source said.

In the meantime, the GBAO emergency management agency says mudflows partially damaged 27 residential houses in the Vanj district.

“Because of mudflows, the Dushanbe-Kulob-Khorog highway has been closed for traffic for already three days,” the GBAO emergencies official said, noting that a large number of vehicles piled up in the Obi Niyov area in Shuroobod.

The Khaburrabot Pass connecting Gorno Badakhshan to the central part of the country and Dushanbe via the Rasht Valley is still closed for traffic.  The Khaburrabot Pass will be opened for traffic only in May and the Dushanbe-Kulob-Khorog highway is still the only overland communication between Gorno Badakhshan and Dushanbe.