Heavy snowstorm ravages Dagestan, hundreds of homes damaged

A severe snowstorm has caused widespread damage across Dagestan, leaving hundreds of homes affected and residents struggling to cope, Telegram channel Shot reports.

The village of Khosrekh in the Kulinsky District was among the hardest hit. Locals were forced onto rooftops to dig out their homes amid the heavy snowfall. The storm also caused temporary power and communication outages, while local shops remained closed.

One video circulating online shows a heavily damaged house belonging to the brother of Dagestani singer and People’s Artist Larisa Gadzhieva, with its roof destroyed and windows and doors blocked by snow. Residents have appealed for assistance from nearby villages and the neighboring Laksky District to help clear the debris and restore their homes.

Other communities across the region experienced similar disruptions, with electricity and communication cut off in multiple villages. The country’s highest-altitude settlement, Kurush, was nearly isolated, as snow blocked roads and buried homes, leaving residents unable to leave their houses.

Meteorologists have warned that additional snowfalls and heavy rains are expected in Dagestan’s mountainous regions over the coming days, raising concerns about further damage and disruption.

By Vafa Guliyeva