Murree, (UNI): Pakistan on Saturday declared emergency in this mountain town, after 21 people froze to death in cars, which got stranded in a huge traffic jam, as people gathered in large numbers to enjoy the heavy snowfall in this tourist resort.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar declared Murree calamity hit and imposed a state of emergency in hospitals, police stations, administration offices and Rescue 1122 services.
He also issued instructions for expediting rescue work and providing aid to the stranded tourists.
In a statement issued by his office, Buzdar said that rescuing stranded tourists was his government’s “foremost priority,” adding that all rest houses and state buildings had been opened to them.
The process to rescue the tourists has been expedited, while food and essential items are also being provided, said the Chief Minister.
The chief minister shared the same in a tweet later in the day, saying he had issued orders to accelerate work to rescue citizens stuck in the snow and send more machinery from Rawalpindi.
More than 23,000 cars were evacuated from the area the night before and the rescue operation was going on, he shared. Buzdar appealed to people to strictly follow instructions given by the police and district administration and cooperate with them.
The entry of cars into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Galiyat has also been banned for the time being.
A circular issued by the Punjab government said, “The Government of Punjab, Pakistan has declared emergency in Murree. We advise the citizens to discontinue their travel plans to avoid risking their lives and that of their loved ones.”
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed his sadness over the incident. On his official Twitter handle, he posted, “Shocked & upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree. Unprecedented snowfall & rush of ppl proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district admin unprepared. Have ordered inquiry & putting in place strong regulation to ensure prevention of such tragedies.”
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, in a video message, said the tourists had flocked to the hill station in such large numbers “for the first time in 15-20 years, which created a big crisis”.
He said the Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations, along with police, had been working to rescue those stranded, while five platoons of the Pakistan Army, as well as Rangers and Frontier Corps, were called on an emergency basis.
The Minister said that around 1,000 cars were stuck on the hill station.
Ahmed said that residents of Murree provided food and blankets to stranded tourists, adding that the administration had closed all routes to the hill station and was now allowing only vehicles planning to take food and blankets.
“God willing, we will rescue 1,000 cars by evening today. We have decided to stop people [travelling] on foot as well. It is no time for [pedestrian] tourists to visit.”
The Pakistan Meteorological Department had predicted heavy snowfall in Murree and Galiyat during January 6 to 9.
