03-02-2012 12:22:27

Wintry weather causes traffic jams, pedestrian injuries in Baku

Cold weather hit Azerbaijan on Thursday, with heavy snowfall and blizzards in the capital Baku blocking traffic in some parts of the city and complicating travel for pedestrians.

Classes in schools have been cancelled until February 6 due to freezing temperatures and snow storms, according to Education Minister Misir Mardanov’s order.

Over 50 people were reported injured in Baku on Thursday after slipping and falling on icy roads, and one person was rushed to an emergency care hospital over freezing, according to the Health Ministry.

Blackouts hit a number of districts of the capital as a result of a blizzard, and power supply remains cut off in most of the settlements outside Baku.

44 road accidents caused by snowfall were reported in Baku since Wednesday evening, said Vagif Asadov, a department head at the city’s traffic police department.

According to Transport Ministry spokesman Namig Hasanov, about 720 passenger buses began to work in Baku early on Thursday, but 300 of them had to be diverted back later in the day after getting stuck on the roads.

“The ministry’s traffic department is doing everything it can to clear the roads, but road machinery is unable to operate on slopes due to thick ice,” Hasanov said.

A number of flights at the Baku airport have been canceled. 

The inclement weather has also complicated traffic on the main highways leading to the Azerbaijani regions.

Kamran Aliyev, an official at the Main State Traffic Police Department, said it is impossible even to spread sand over the roads due to thick snow.

The number of passengers using railways has increased due to ice on the roads, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC said.

Weather forecasters say frosty weather will persist until Sunday. Temperatures of 0 and -3 C degrees are expected to last in Baku through the weekend.

In the country’s regions, the temperature is predicted at -3 degrees in the afternoon and between -12 and -17 at night.

In mountainous areas, the temperatures are expected to fall to as low as -23 degrees.

TAGS: Cold weather, Azerbaijan, Education Minister Misir Mardanov, Transport Ministry spokesman Namig Hasanov, Baku airport, Kamran Aliyev, Main State Traffic Police Department, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC