The worst blizzard in the past five decades hit the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze in Southwest China's Sichuan Province since Monday, blocking roads and forced closure of groups of shops and plants, local source said.

Heavy snowfall measuring 48 millimeters in depth hit the Tibetan prefecture, which is believed the worst in the past 50 years, the provincial disaster relief and meteorological departments said Wednesday.

The blizzard coincides with the Tibetan New Year, which fell on Tuesday, causing much inconvenience for local residents.

The local government is arranging relief work and distributing relief materials to the affected people.

The heavy snowfall will continue on Wednesday and Thursday, the local meteorological observatory said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)