Heavy snow has fallen on the 4,370-meter high Cona tableland in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region since Jan. 23, leaving a snow cover of 70 centimeters and freezing animals to death.
More than 3,000 soldiers were sent to rebuild 45 houses for local farmers. Some 20 tons of necessities, worth 50,000 yuan (US$7,000), had been sent to the area.
The snow cut off electricity, traffic and communications in Cona County and nearby towns and villages. Some 400 soldiers were sent on Wednesday to help. Repair work on communications facilities and main roads leading to the border was under way.
(Xinhua News Agency January 31, 2008)
