Witnesses said on Wednesday that frightened citizens were still attempting to flee Kunduz, with AFP quoting a resident, waiting in the bus station with his family of five, as saying, "Almost all the people in the city want to leave.

I have been trying to find transportation for hours today, but all cars are full."

A large number of residents have been trapped as the main roads to Kunduz are cut off.
Sources say over 160 civilians "wounded as a result of clashes" have been admitted to the public hospital over the past three days.

Schools, universities and other private and public institutions are shut across the city. Residents have been left without electricity as the main power station has been destroyed by militants.

Officials have warned about the dire living conditions in the city, saying people are facing food, water, and electricity shortage.

Residents have complained about food shortage and rising food prices in the troubled region.
"The few shops that are open are running out of food items.

We don't know when the government is going to begin their clearance operation to push them (Taliban) completely out of the town," Khairuddin, a teacher who was identified with single name, said.
"We are facing a shortage of food in the city.

The prices are skyrocketing.

A loaf of bread that cost 15 Afghanis ($0.22) is now 40 Afghanis ($0.60)," another resident said, adding, "People have to wait in queues for hours behind bakeries to buy bread."

Meanwhile, Qasim Jungalbagh, the Kunduz provincial police chief, said Afghan forces were engaged in heavy battles with Taliban in the city.

Jungalbagh said Taliban launched fresh attacks from the south and east early Wednesday morning.

"Once again insurgents attacked our forces from two different directions and heavy battles are taking place to the south and east of the city."

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