Drivers shoveling their way to their cars or helping other drivers push cars out of snowdrifts have been a usual sight in Moscow in the last four days as the Russian capital has been battling blizzards.
Moscow has been blanketed with some 63 cm of snow over the past four days, making February the most snowy month in 40 years.
Snow has wreaked havoc on roads, but brought joy for children during the four-day state holiday to celebrate Defender of the Motherland Day.
Blizzards have caused traffic jams even though many drivers have heeded authorities' appeals to avoid traveling by car, and snowplows have been working day and night to clear the roads of snow.
City authorities dispatched 17,000 snowplows, more than 8,000 trucks and 5,500 cleaners to fight the elements. Main thoroughfares have been kept relatively clean, but on side roads packed with snow drivers were helping each other push stranded cars blocking traffic.
Some 417,000 cubic meters of snow have been cleared in the city in the past 24 hours alone, according to authorities. Roofs of two buildings collapsed under snow on Monday injuring no one.
The blizzards brought misery to travelers on motorways, but Moscow's railroads and airports are working as usual.
Weather forecasts said heavy snowfalls will stop on Tuesday and sunny and warmer days are expected.
MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti)
