Snow and heavy rain have killed 61 people in Afghanistan in the past three days, disaster officials said on Saturday, with a major road and power also cut in several provinces.The deaths occurred mainly in central and northern provinces between Wednesday and Friday, according to a map released by Afghanistan’s disaster management authority (ANDMA).The “initial figures of casualties and destruction” also include 110 injured people and 458 houses that were either partially or fully destroyed, ANDMA said on social media platform X.A total of 360 families were affected, said a spokesman who asked people in a video message to avoid unnecessary travel on snowy roads.The spokesman also told AFP that most of the casualties were caused by roof collapses and avalanches, while many also died from frostbite in sub-zero temperatures.The emergency department in the southern province of Kandahar said six children were killed when the roof of their home collapsed in strong wind and heavy rain on Wednesday.Houses were also damaged in other districts.- Major highway cut -The Salang highway, one of Afghanistan’s main roads, has been closed, authorities in Parwan province north of Kabul said. The highway is a vital connection to Afghanistan’s northern provinces.Food supplies were also distributed to travellers stuck on a mountain pass in central Bamyan province, west of the capital.A transmission line importing electricity from Uzbekistan was also damaged on Thursday, leaving households in almost 12 provinces without power.”The technical teams are ready but cannot reach the area because of the blockage of Salang pass,” said Mohammad Sadiq, the spokesman for Afghanistan’s national power utility DABS.The heavy snow and rain also destroyed shops and killed livestock in different parts of the predominantly rural country.”Snow and rain, when managed properly, contribute positively to Afghanistan’s environment and livelihoods,” the Kabul Times daily wrote in an editorial.”However, without sufficient preparation and timely intervention, these natural phenomena can quickly turn into sources of tragedy,” it said.Around half of Afghanistan’s population of more than 40 million people will need humanitarian assistance this year, according to the United Nations, after a sharp drop in foreign assistance in recent years.Natural disasters such as earthquakes and drought also often compound the daily struggle to survive.

England rang the changes and spun a web around Sri Lanka, bowling the hosts out for a modest 219 in 49.3 overs in the second one-day international of the three-match series on Saturday.With their backs to the wall and the series on the line, England beefed up their spin arsenal and the move proved a masterstroke.After after the hosts chose to bat first, wickets fell at regular intervals as Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum, eventually folding with three balls to spare.After just nine overs of seam at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, it was spin almost all the way. England rolled out six slow bowling options, with part-timer Joe Root turning out to be an unlikely trump card. His off-spin accounted for two wickets.No Sri Lankan batter managed to convert a start into a half-century on a surface that offered sharp turn. Forced to manufacture shots, the hosts took too many risks, while England’s fielders snapped up chances to back up the bowlers’ work.Although the total appeared below par on paper, the pitch should remain a handful. Wit Sri Lanka boasting a deep spin attack of their own, England’s innings is likely to hinge on old-fashioned virtues — finding gaps, running hard and resisting the temptation to go aerial, a tactic that proved costly for several Sri Lankan batters.Captain Charith Asalanka top-scored with 45 in a nervy stay, his innings ending when a slog-sweep failed to clear deep mid-wicket. Kusal Mendis looked fluent during his 26, using his feet well against spin, but threw his wicket away with a run-out.Sri Lanka  carry a formidable home record, having remained unbeaten in ODI series at home over the last five years. In that period, they have played 12 home series, winning 11 and drawing one, with spin bowling doing much of the heavy lifting in those successes.