As many as 21 people have died in their vehicles in Murree due to heavy snowfall in the region, prompting the federal government to deploy the Pakistan Army and other civil-armed forces in the area to provide aid.
Routes leading up to Murree were left blocked after thousands of vehicles entered the hill station leaving hundreds and thousands of tourists blocked on the road.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid said that the city had witnessed “a large number of tourists after 15 to 20 years” due to which a crisis took place.
Rashid added that five platoons of the Pakistan Army had been deployed to provide rescue services. He said that the Rangers and Frontier Corps would also be called on emergency basis.
The interior minister elaborated that nearly 1,000 vehicles had been blocked since overnight and some of them had been evacuated. He added that 16 to 19 deaths had taken place in the vehicles. Rashid said that the locals provided food and blankets to the stuck tourists.
He said that authorities would evacuate up to 1,000 vehicles by today evening whereas the roads going to Murree would be closed till tomorrow evening.
According to authorities, rain and blizzards are to be expected tonight in and around the hill station. The local administration has issued a warning to citizens to remain indoors as the weather will turn severe.
