Twenty houses were destroyed and over three dozen people have lost their lives as avalanche hit a village in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province 315 km northeast of capital Kabul Monday night, head of Provincial Council Zabihullah Ateq said Tuesday.

"The tragic incident happened in Detshi village of Shakai district last night and so far 37 people including women and children have been confirmed dead and four others injured," Ateq told Xinhua.

He also said that the casualties could go up as rescue operation is going on.

Police spokesman in the northern region Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai in talks with Xinhua also confirmed the death of 37 people in Shakai district.

Earlier spokesman for Badakhshan provincial administration Abdul Marouf Rasikh confirmed the happening of the natural disaster in the mountainous Shakai district, saying efforts are underway to rescue the affected and provide humanitarian aid.

Parts of Afghanistan have received heavy snowfall over the past one month. More than 40 people had lost their lives due to heavy snows and freezing weather in the mountainous Badakhshan province last month. Enditem