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MOBILE PHONES SAVED LIVES OF PEOPLE TRAPPED BY AN AVALANCE IN AFGHANISTAN |
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December 13, 2006 |
For Immediate Release
MOBILE PHONES SAVED LIVES OF PEOPLE TRAPPED BY AN AVALANCHE IN AFGHANISTAN
Kabul, Afghanistan- December 13, 2006 Recent heavy snowstorms closed major highways in Afghanistan, and the Salang Tunnel- the major mountain pass connecting the northern provinces and Kabul with further connections to Pakistan and Southern Afghanistan- was no exception.
In normal weather, driving through the Salang Tunnel typically cuts travel time from the North to Kabul from 72 hours to 10 hours. At an altitude of 11,100 feet, the tunnel was the highest road tunnel in the world until 1973, when the US constructed the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel, which is slightly higher and longer, in the Rocky Mountains.
Due to the heavy snow storm, many passengers were stuck in both sides of the tunnel and faced with snow more than 7-8 feet high. They had no access to first aid or any other essentials. Eight vehicles were trapped under a heavy avalanche, which caused three deaths and injured a little girl. About 200 trucks and passenger vehicles spent more than 35 hours exposed to severe cold and heavy snow.
A few years ago, under such circumstances, death would have claimed the lives of many more of these passengers. In the past, there were no ways to communicate when one was faced with danger. Afghanistan’s advancement in technology, and the launch of wireless phone service made available in the Salang region in October 2005 by Afghan Wireless helped get attention to the plight of those trapped by the avalanche from the local authorities. Afghan Wireless has made wireless phone service available in one of the harshest environments and in one of the poorest countries in the world. According to General Regeb, Commander-in- charge of the Salang Highway, “ Many lives were saved thanks to Afghan Wireless phone service as many of the passengers used their mobile phones to contact their loved ones, relatives, and local authorities for help”.
Ehsanollah Bayat, Chief Executive Officer, of Afghan Wireless and chairman of the Bayat Foundation, upon hearing of the circumstances, undertook a huge operation in collaboration with the Parwan Province Police Dept. and the highway snow removal team to open up the roads and help the passengers stuck at Salang. As part of its continuous humanitarian efforts, the Bayat Foundation went to Salang Pass along with two snow removing bulldozers. After many hours of strenuous work, they managed to open the road to traffic. Meanwhile, Ehsanollah Bayat, distributed blankets and food packages to exhausted passengers who were walking on foot from the Northern side of the pass to the Southern side. Mr. Bayat said that providing humanitarian assistance throughout Afghanistan remains one of his top priorities. Abdur Rahman Saeedkhel, Parwan Provincial Police Chief, also thanked Afghan Wireless and the Bayat Foundation after the Salang Highway was re-opened.
For more information on Afghan Wireless:
Please contact Tushar Maheshwari at
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For more information about the Bayat Foundation:
Please contact
Fatema Bayat at
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Summary
Recent heavy snowstorms closed major highways in Afghanistan, and the Salang Tunnel- the major mountain pass connecting the northern provinces and Kabul with further connections to Pakistan and Southern Afghanistan- was no exception.
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