Roads to stranded villages cleared

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has suffered through more than its share of blizzards this winter. Blocked roads left several villages stranded. Thousands of border defense troops have mobilized to clear lifelines for relief supplies.

The Buran Wind blew into Xinjiang's Tacheng Area yet again on Sunday night.

The ferocious gusts brought along substantial snow and ice pellets, while reducing visibility to near zero.

By Monday morning, half-a-meter-high drifts were found blocking roads, and engulfing vehicles.

Dozens of border troops arrived to expunge the accumulation, despite a low temperature of minus-30 degrees Celsius.

The snow piles formed by the wind are so solid that clearing machines can only move 20 meters an hour.

Soldiers had to travel 3 kilometers to deliver food to the suddenly isolated villagers.

Meanwhile, another rescue team worked for 16 hours to reach the town of Elaman, located near Altay, the only locale still cut off by the recent blizzards.

A medical team arrived just hours earlier.

Twelve households in the vicinity include patients suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease.

Medicine was urgently needed for those immobilized by the incessant snow for more than a month.

The assistance squad transported three trucks of emergency goods including 2 tons of flour, 10 tons of coal, and 15 tons of livestock feed.

The Altay Military Region's airborne troop also planned to drop relief provisions into affected areas on Monday. But their mission was hampered by inclement conditions. Officials say the pilots and helicopters are ready to take off as soon as the weather clears.