Heavy Snowfall Closes Ghor-Kabul Highway

Earlier, local sources had put the number of stranded workers at 35.

Bakhtar News Agency quoted Muradi, as saying that rescue groups helped the stranded workers.

The collapse of a coal mine occurred on Saturday evening, December 14, in the Sefid Khak area of the village of Goleh in the Dari Suf Payin Valley.

Earlier, local sources had said that rescue teams were dispatched to the site to pull the workers out of the mine.

The Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency wrote that the mine collapsed while workers were working inside it.

Although some sources put the number of stranded people at 35 and some more than 40, the Taliban has so far refused to provide specific statistics on the stranded workers.

Regarding the protection of the monument, which is in danger of collapse, McPhillips said that efforts are underway to attract funding.

According to the report, McPhillips stressed on the need to protect the monument.

McPhillips has said that a new bridge will be built for tourists to pass over the Hari-rud river near Minar-e-Jam.

The minaret, which is considered a masterpiece of the Ghurid civilisation, was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2002, however, the lack of sufficient attention in its restoration over the past two decades has led to repeated warnings about the possibility of its collapse.

According to the court, the accused were each subjected to 39 lashes and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 months to 2 years. In a statement released on Sunday, the Taliban’s Supreme Court noted that the flogging took place in the presence of local officials, court attendees, and members of the public.

Separately, the court reported another public flogging in Kunduz province on Saturday, where three individuals accused of “same-sex relations” were each subjected to 39 lashes. They were also sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 4 to 7 years.

Despite widespread condemnation from international human rights organisations regarding the use of corporal punishment and torture, the Taliban continue to carry out public floggings, claiming these practices align with “Islamic Sharia law.”

The Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan has seen an increase in public punishments, raising concerns over human rights violations and the erosion of judicial fairness.

The incident occurred on the evening of Saturday in the Safid Khak area. Rescue teams have been dispatched to the site, but no updates on their progress have been provided so far.

Domestic media outlets have shared images of ongoing rescue efforts, highlighting the challenges faced by emergency responders.

The Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency also confirmed the incident, citing local officials. According to their reports, the mine collapsed while workers were still inside.

Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding the number of individuals trapped, with some sources reporting 35 miners, while others estimate the figure to exceed 40.

Local Taliban officials have advised residents in certain districts to avoid travelling to Herat. According to their statement, the highway was blocked on Sunday, 15 December, in the Baqarchar area and remains closed to transportation.

Taliban authorities in Herat have announced that efforts are underway to clear the highway and restore traffic flow. Meanwhile, the Taliban’s police command in Herat issued a notice urging residents of the Ghorian, Khushki Kuhna, Rabat Sangi, and Torghundi districts to refrain from travelling towards Herat until further notice.

Heavy snowfall during winter frequently results in road closures and, in some cases, fatalities across the region.