Washington: A blizzard of epic proportion covered the US capital and adjoining states with thick snow, killing at least two people and forcing thousands of residents to live without electricity in freezing temperatures.
US President Barack Obama, who delivered a forceful speech before the Democratic Committee yesterday, called the record-breaking blizzard "snowmageddon".
In fact one of the emergency vehicles of his convoy lost track and slid into a press SUV, though without any damage.
Hundreds of accidents were reported in the worst affected states like Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, North Carolina and Delaware.
At least two deaths have been reported from Virginia, police said, adding emergency services were pressed into services in all the affected states to remove the snow.
Authorities still were doubtful if the snow could be removed from highways and main roads when schools and offices open on Monday.
Former Indian captain and now an MP, Mohammad Azharuddin, could not board his flight to India as Dulles International Airport was closed after a part of a hangar roof collapsed and damaged some of the private jets housed inside.
No one was hurt, Courtney Mickalonis, spokeswoman for Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said.
"I hope I will be able to fly back tomorrow," Azharuddin, who was here to attend National Breakfast Prayer and was scheduled to take a flight today morning, said.
Hundreds and thousands of people across mid-Atlantic states were trying to overcome what many term as the worst ever snow fall in the region in recent memory.
More than 250 flights at the Philadelphia airport were cancelled. Amtrak cancelled most of train services yesterday, with a few trains running on key routes.
Delaware Governor declared a state of emergency.
PTI
