Due to the heavy snowfall in Kabul the Afghan government has announced today, Sunday, a public holiday.

Acting-Minister of Labor, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled Nasrin Oriakhail, in phone call with TOLOnews, said that because of the amount of snow in the past 24 hours an emergency has been declared. The holiday is however applicable countrywide.

Overnight snowfall in Kabul and most provinces has resulted in the closure of transport routes.

Meanwhile Kabul Municipality has asked all the drivers to use chains while driving.

On Saturday night President Ashraf Ghani directed emergency state committees, public work ministry, rural development officials and security forces to be prepared to prevent possible situations arising of heavy snow and to deliver aid in the country.

Heavy snow storms and avalanches have claimed the lives of 28 people in 12 provinces in the past two days and have closed roads in 12 provinces, the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) said on Saturday.