Murree snowstorm death toll goes up to 23 amid rescue, relief operation

Murree snowstorm death toll goes up to 23 amid rescue, relief operation

The minister described the situation as a "natural tragedy" in which the area had seen "severe snowfall."

He claimed that cars were unable to continue on to Murree, so others began walking there, only to be stopped as well.

"In an hour or two," he continued, "we aim to have the issue under control."

Murree Snowstorm

The deaths, according to the ministry, were caused by "suffocation."

Heavy gear has been dispatched to Murree to rescue visitors, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).

Machinery has also been dispatched to the Lower Topa area, according to the report.

'People left their automobiles on the highways.'

Shahbaz Gill, the prime minister's political communication aide, said he had toured around with the local administration to assess the situation.

When it began to snow severely, he claimed, many people abandoned their cars on the roads and sought cover in hotels.

The flow of traffic has been hindered as a result of these autos, according to Gill.

"The administration is engaged and is doing everything possible to keep the routes open to traffic," he said.

The bodies of ASI Naveed Iqbal and his family have been transported to Islamabad.

Meanwhile, the body of ASI Naveed Iqbal, a police officer who died in Murree, and his family were transported to his home in Islamabad, according to authorities.

The bodies of his four children, his sister, niece, and nephew were among them.

'All families have been sent to government rest homes.'

Buzdar stated on Twitter on Saturday evening that "all families" stuck in Murree have been relocated to government rest houses and motels.

He stated, "We are giving all basic facilities to them, including food, medicines, and warm clothing."

According to police statistics, there were a total of 33,745 automobiles in Murree as of last night, with 33,373 vehicles being evacuated.

"The entire Rawalpindi division management is participating in rescue operations," he added.

'This is not the time to visit Murree,' says the narrator.

All routes in Murree were stopped for traffic after thousands of vehicles reached the city after "record snowfall," as Prime Minister Imran Khan characterised it.

The issue erupted as Murree witnessed "a significant number of tourists after 15-20 years," the interior minister stated in a video message earlier in the day.

According to Rasheed, the government was obliged to close the road connecting Islamabad and Murree. "The commissioners, deputy commissioners, and police in Islamabad and Rawalpindi are conducting rescue efforts," he said.

Five platoons of the Pakistan Army have been called in for rescue efforts, according to the interior minister, while Rangers and the Frontier Corps will be deployed on an emergency basis.

"Since last night, at least 1,000 vehicles have been stuck; some have been evacuated; 16-19 people have died in automobiles. The trapped people were given food and blankets by the neighbours."

The interior minister stated that 1,000 vehicles would be evacuated by this evening, and that the highways to Murree would be closed until 9 p.m. tomorrow.

"We've also decided to prohibit tourists from walking into Murree; this is not the time to visit Murree," Rasheed remarked.

'Tourists did not perish from the cold.'

"There has been approximately 4 to 4.5 feet of snowfall in Murree," SHO Murree Police Station Raja Rasheed told Geo.tv. This much snow has never fallen in this location before."

He said that the majority of those who perished in Murree did not succumb to the cold; rather, they died because they left their car heaters on and went to sleep.

They were murdered by the heater's gases."

'The government is to blame for my cousin's death.'

Naveed Iqbal's cousin, Tayyab Gondal, broke down in tears as he blamed the "incompetent" administration for his relative's murder.

He told Geo News that scores of vehicles had been stranded in Murree for the past 24 hours, with up to 4,000 vehicles stranded on the Nathia Gali Road.

"The route from GT Road to Murree was clear; but, as soon as we entered Murree, the flow of traffic came to a halt. At the toll plaza, the local authority did not stop us "Gondal said.

According to Gondal, "My family members would still be alive today if it hadn't been for the government's carelessness. The government's negligence is to blame for the [killing of the people]."

"We have tourist spots but no one to look after them," he said.

He went on to say that some families are still waiting for help. "I sent [the local administration] my current location, but no one responded to offer assistance."

According to rescue officials, ASI Iqbal, his wife, four children, and two boys are among the dead.

Murree has been declared a disaster-stricken area in Punjab.

Murree has been declared a calamity-hit area by the Punjab government after heavy snowfall caused havoc on the city. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has recommended that government offices and rest houses be opened for stranded tourists, citing the pandemonium and emergency situation.

He commanded that every feasible relief be provided to tourists, and that the ongoing rescue mission to evacuate individuals from the hill station be accelerated.

The chief minister ordered to move additional resources from Rawalpindi and other cities to Murree to speed up the relief operation.

CM Buzdar also directed to send his official helicopter to Murree for the rescue mission.

'Shocked' prime minister

Prime Minister Imran Khan, responding to the incident, said: "Shocked and upset at tragic deaths of tourists on road to Murree."

He mentioned that "unprecedented snowfall and rush of people proceeding without checking weather conditions caught district administration unprepared".

The prime minister said he has ordered an inquiry into the matter and was putting in place a "strong regulation" to ensure the prevention of such tragedies in the future.

Snowstorm

Rain and blizzards are expected in and around Murree tonight, according to the local administration, with thunderstorms reaching speeds of 50-90 kmph and heavy snowfall.

The administration has issued a warning to citizens not to leave their houses in the event of severe weather or travel to Murree, as severe weather is expected to last until late at night.

Murree attracts a large number of visitors.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists are flocking to Murree as a result of the continuous snowfall that has been falling in the region for the past two days.

According to officials cited by Geo News, an estimated 125,000 automobiles have reached the city thus far, causing major traffic congestion on the roads.

To deal with the problem, the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner confirmed that the route leading to the tourist destination has been closed near Bhara Kahu tool plaza.

Since last night, tens of thousands of tourists, including women and children, have been stranded on the area's roadways. Officials from the traffic police, on the other hand, were working to restore traffic flow on the roads.

Tourists have asked the government to assist them in getting out of the region.

"Around 23000 vehicles have been securely evacuated from Murree," Rawalpindi deputy commissioner remarked on Twitter. Around 1000 people remain stuck."

He insisted that the district administration is working nonstop to carefully evacuate the remaining automobiles.

The government has requested that the proposal be postponed for a few days.

Sheikh Rasheed had previously urged tourists, particularly families, to avoid visiting Murree and Galyat.

He had stated that tourists would not be permitted to travel beyond the 17 Mile Interchange. Citizens facing a life-threatening situation, on the other hand, will be permitted to travel to Murree and Galyat.

Similarly, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry stated that a significant number of vehicles were en route to Murree and other hilly places, making it impossible for the local authority to keep track of them.

11-1-2022.