Kazakh tourists got stuck in the snow on the highway after returning home from the Karakol ski resort in Kyrgyzstan.
Akylbek Zhetybayev and his family rested at the Karakol ski resort in Kyrgyzstan. But it was not possible to return home without adventures. They decided to go through the checkpoint “Kegen – Karkara”, as the way through it is shorter and the places are more beautiful. But as soon as they passed the checkpoint, Almaty residents met stuck cars on the way, which they volunteered to help. As a result, all cars were stuck in the snow captivity.
“In Kyrgyzstan, we drove from Karakol to the border for an hour and a half: everything is beautiful, the road is beautiful, we passed control, drove to our native land and felt shame and fear for the state of the uncleaned road! Not far from the checkpoint there were already two stuck cars. Since my car is slightly modified for off-road driving, I thought: I’ll pull them out and make way for the rest.
However, my car could not drive on the swept road either. Starting at 14 o’clock, we got down to business. But after two or three hours, we advanced 500 meters together. When our strength ran out and we lost hope of leaving the snowdrifts, we decided to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations. By that time we already had four cars, 15 people, four of whom were children. The time was 16.00,” Akylbek says.
The operator of the Ministry of Emergency Situations by number 112 recorded all the data and explained that the snowplowing equipment is not working now, because the diesel is frozen. But they promised to come soon and get everyone out.
“Three and a half hours later, at 19.30, the Ministry of Emergency Situations arrived – the Ural snowplow and UAZ-452. We were very happy, but early. We hoped that now the car would clear the road and we would all pass, but the Ural (snow cleaning machine – Approx. The author) got stuck, and the UAZ tried to pull the car stuck with us, and later he ran out of gasoline. Now we have started to dig out the “Ural”. There was only one shovel for eight people! As a result, I drove my car with the help of the other guys who were stuck, I still punched the way myself: both the Ural, and the UAZ, and all the other cars! At 23.30 at night we broke out of the snow captivity.”
Thanks to KazAvtoZhol for the forgotten roads, thanks to the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Kazakhstan for not providing assistance, for the frozen diesel, the Ural, which barely drove, for one shovel for eight people! According to rumors, 16 more cars were stuck on the same road the next day,” Akylbek says.
К слову, дорога в Кыргызстане до границы с Казахстаном была вычищена хорошо.
Another tourist, Katerina, posted on Instagram that 15 cars with adults and children were stuck on the same road and could not leave for almost eight hours. Rescuers did not wait, and they managed to leave themselves six hours later thanks to a rural tractor driver, passing drivers and shovels.
The akimat of the Kegensky district confirmed that such a case took place.
“This case was on the highway of republican significance Kokpek – Kegen – Typ. Akimat employees helped to dig up the cars. In fact, there is no road there. However, this highway is located in the KazAvtoZhol department of the Almaty region, they are also engaged in cleaning,” the akimat of the Kegensky district commented.
The KazAvtoZhol branch of the Almaty region, in turn, explained why there was a delay in clearing the site.
“AOF JSC NC KazAvtoZhol, without absolving itself of responsibility for the proper prompt response to the maintenance of roads of republican significance, assures that in the future, road maintenance points with the necessary equipment will be equipped in all dangerous, including snow-bearing sections of the Almaty region.
In the period of December 18-19, 2021, in this area, due to the sharp deterioration of weather conditions, large crossings formed on the pavement, preventing the passage of vehicles. The delay and some delay in clearing this area were caused by the fact that the actual snow-covered area was the interval from the 85th kilometer (Karkara village) to the 99th kilometer.
After notifying the road services, the workers carried out all the necessary measures to combat snow-bearing and snow clearing in this area,” the department explained.
In turn, the press service of the Emergency Department of the Almaty region explained that after receiving a message about stuck cars, according to the interaction plan, the information was immediately transferred to the road services, in particular to the DAEWOO-91 of JSC NC “KazAvtoZhol”.
“After receiving a message about stuck cars, according to the interaction plan, the information was immediately transmitted to the road services, in particular to the DAEWOO-91 of NC KazAvtoZhol JSC. The drivers of the stuck cars did not want to leave their cars, and therefore the equipment of the Emergency Departments did not go to the place of the call. For the evacuation of people in the fire station No. 11 of the village of Kegen of the Kegensky district, a special car, a snowmobile “Trekol”, is on constant readiness,” the department commented.
