Murree declared ‘disaster area’ after at least 21 die trapped in vehicles amid snowfall

ISLAMABAD: At least 21 people died in an enormous traffic jam caused by tens of thousands of visitors thronging a Pakistani hill town to see unusually heavy snowfall, authorities said Saturday.

The people died after heavy snow trapped them in their vehicles as tens of thousands of visitors thronged the hill town.

Minister for Interior Sheikh Rashid said that continuous snowfall and traffic congestion in Murree following which Pakistan Army, FC and Rangers were called in to assist in rescue operations.

Read more: Rain, snowfall predicted in different parts of country

“For the first time in the history of Pakistan after 15 to 20 years, such a large number of tourists went towards Murree which created a crisis that the government had to block the traffic going to the tourist spot.”

Murree, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) northeast of Islamabad, has long been popular for day trips from the capital.

Rashid was in Murree to supervise relief and evacuation activities in which the administrations of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were also participating. Besides five platoons of the Pakistan Army, FC and Rangers had also been called in to assist them, the minister said.

وزیر داخلہ شیخ رشید احمد مری اور گلیات میں پھنسے مسافروں کی امداد کی مانیٹرنگ کے لئے مری پہنچ گئے۔ شیخ رشید احمد نے کہا کہ برفباری کی وجہ سے 16 سے 19 سیاحوں کی اموات واقع ہوئی ہیں کچھ گاڑیوں کو نکالی لیاگیا ہے جبکہ دیگر کو واپس بھیج دیا ہے ۔@ShkhRasheed pic.twitter.com/aoymoyeJtn

— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) January 8, 2022

“Some 1000 vehicles are still stranded since last night in Murree, which the government aims to rescue by evening today.”

“All roads leading to Murree have been closed till 9pm tomorrow, and now we are banning people on foot from entering it. Vehicles carrying blankets and relief supplies are only being allowed to enter Murree or anyone with an emergency.”

It was no time for the pedestrian tourists to visit Murree, he added.

Police reported that at least six people had frozen to death in their cars, while it was not immediately clear if others had died from asphyxiation after inhaling fumes in the snowdrift.

Video shared on social media showed cars packed bumper-to-bumper, with one-metre-high (three-foot) piles of snow on their roofs.

Over 100,000 cars had entered the scenic town of Murree in the past few days to see the unusually heavy snowfalls, causing an enormous traffic jam on roads leading in and out, a police spokesperson told AFP.

Rashid said residents had sheltered people trapped in the town and provided blankets and food to those they could reach on the outskirts.

Authorities said schools and government buildings had taken in those who could make it to the town from the clogged roads.

Murree declared ‘disaster area’

The government of Punjab on Saturday declared an emergency in Murree. The province’s chief minister office said that the hill station had been declared a “disaster area” and urged people to stay away.

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar also ordered the chief secretary, IG police, relief commissioner, DG rescue and PDMA to monitor the rescue activities. He appealed to people to strictly follow instructions given by the police and district administration and cooperate with them.

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وزیراعلیٰ @UsmanAKBuzdar کا مری میں ایمرجنسی کےنفاذ کا اعلان: مری کو آفت زدہ قراردےدیا

•مری اور ملحقہ علاقوں میں تمام ریسٹ ہاؤسز اور سرکاری اداروں کوسیاحوں کیلئےکھول دیاگیاہے
•وزیراعلی نےاپنا ہیلی کاپٹر بھی ریسکیوسرگرمیوں کےلئےدےدیاموسم بہترہوتے ہی امدادی سرگرمیوں میں حصہ لےگا pic.twitter.com/o5sdTH8lD8

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) January 8, 2022

In its statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said army engineers reached the area to help open up the main highways.

Helicopters were also on standby for when the weather cleared.

Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Muhammed Hamza Shafqaat also said, “Roads from Islamabad to Murree have been closed since yesterday. People are requested not to go to Murree today and tomorrow. Despite the ban, thousands of people turned up today and had to be deported.”

راولپنڈی پولیس مری میں شدید برف باری کے دوران شہریوں کی مدد کرتے ہوئے!#PunjabPolice #AtYourService #youmatter pic.twitter.com/ASMyqsvWo0

— Punjab Police Official (@OfficialDPRPP) January 8, 2022

Rescue 1122, Pakistan’s emergency service, released a list naming 21 people it said had been confirmed dead. It included also a policeman, his wife and their six children.

Hasaan Khawar, a spokesperson for the Punjab government, said they had frozen to death inside a trapped car.

Traffic warning

Authorities warned last weekend that too many vehicles were trying to enter Murree, but that failed to discourage hordes of daytrippers from Islamabad.

“It’s not only the tourists, but the local population is also facing severe problems,” tourist Abbasi told AFP.

Read more: NDMA dispatches relief supplies to rain-hit areas in Balochistan on PM’s directives

“Gas cylinders have run out and drinking water is not available in most areas — it’s either frozen or the water pipes have been damaged due to severe cold.”

He said hotels in the town were running out of food, and mobile phone services were patchy.

The town of around 30,000 clings to the side of steep hills and valleys and is serviced by narrow roads that are frequently clogged even in good weather.