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Armed police relocate Tibetan villagers stranded by snow

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-12 11:52

LHASA: Armed police have rescued more than 260 Tibetan villagers and 1,000 head of livestock stranded for at least three days by heavy snow.

Armed police managed to open up the road to Gongzi Village in Ali Prefecture at 1:30 am Monday and all 53 families were temporarily relocated to the Huo'er Township, said Zhang Zhishuang, political commissar of an armed police detachment in the region.

No casualties were reported in the village, said Zhang.

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More than 60 armed-police with 10 snow-clearing machines and vehicles were deployed in the rescue operation, said Zhang.

The week-long snowfall accumulated to about 30 centimeters in Pulan County of Ali, with some areas suffering meter-thick snow drifts.

Heavy snow cut off the roads connecting some townships in the county and local authorities requested help from the armed police on Sunday.

Zhang said the armed police were prepared for new rescue missions.