Chilly weather and heavy snowfall have claimed 16 lives in Afghanistan's northern Jauzjan and Faryab provinces in the last few days.

The victims consisted of fourteen people in Jauzjan and two others in Faryab and included three children and a woman.

Scores of houses have been damaged and more than 1000 cattle heads have reportedly been killed due to cold climate in the two provinces.

Snowfall and cold weather began hitting the provinces on Saturday and is still continuing in parts of the country including the northern region and capital city of Kabul.