Officials in Nimroz say search operations are continuing for 19 Afghans who went missing in the Dasht-i-Margo desert of the southwestern province four days ago after the vehicle carrying them to neighbouring Iran via an illegal route broke down.
Governor’s spokesman Mawlawi Abdul Mutawakil Tawhidi told Pajhwok 20 Afghans had set out for Iran several days ago through an illegal crossing when their vehicle developed a mechanical fault in the Dasht-i-Margo area of Chakhansur district.
He explained that the driver and one passenger left the group to look for water, assistance and equipment to repair the vehicle. However, because of a severe dust storm, the remaining passengers were unable to stay at the site and dispersed in different directions in an attempt to find nearby villages.
He added that when the driver and his companion returned, they were unable to find any of the other passengers.
He noted that the vehicle had broken down twice earlier during the journey. After repairing it, the driver and his companion also lost their way in the storm and became stranded in the sand. Eventually, one of them managed to reach Zaranj and informed the provincial authorities and police.
Tawhidi confirmed that the incident occurred four days ago and that police and intelligence personnel had launched an extensive search operation immediately after receiving the report.
He noted that rescue efforts were continuing through various means, including the deployment of helicopters, but no trace of the missing men had yet been found.
Tawhidi also rejected a BBC report on the incident as inaccurate. He maintained that while the incident itself was genuine, the five bodies recently recovered were unrelated to the 19 missing men and belonged to other individuals.
According to him, the five bodies were all male residents of Balkh province.
He further clarified that the 19 missing individuals were also all men and that no women were among the group.
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