October 11, 2023
Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh Province - On Wednesday, sources reported that a car carrying journalists who were participating in the first phase of the Qush Tepa Canal completion in northern Balkh Province overturned, causing injuries to seven journalists.
According to a source in Balkh province, the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 pm today. The car, carrying seven journalists, overturned while returning from the Hairatan area in Kaldar district to Qaltaq village in Daulat Abad district of Balkh. The injured journalists have been identified as Nasir Ahmad Amiri, a cameraman, Khaja Sharifullah Siddiqi, a reporter from Afghanistan Radio Television (RTA), Najibullah Faryad, a reporter from Ariana TV, Nasir Sharifi, a reporter and Amin Jalali, a cameraman from Arezu TV, Rafi Hayati, a cameraman from Bakhtar News Agency, and Habib Behmanesh, a reporter from the state-run Bidar magazine.
These journalists had traveled to the Haritan area to participate in the completion ceremony of the first phase of the Qush Tepa canal. They were supposed to proceed to Dawlat Abad district in Balkh province to cover the commencement of the second phase of the project.
Jawad Darwish, a reporter from Tamaddun TV in Balkh province, informed the Afghanistan Journalists Center that Najib Faryad sustained a shoulder injury, Amin Jalali suffered a neck injury, and Khaja Sharifullah Siddiqi sustained a back injury. They are currently receiving medical treatment. The health status of the other four journalists, who sustained minor injuries, is reported to be stable.
The Qush Tepa Canal is a significant construction project in Afghanistan, with the first phase commenced two years ago. Once completed, the canal will span 285 kilometers in length, 152 meters in width, and have a depth ranging from 8.5 to 12.5 meters. Its purpose is to transfer water from the Amu Darya River in the country's north to the provinces of Balkh, Jawzjan, and Faryab.