More than 23,000 cars were evacuated from the area in Pakistan’s Murree Hill Station the night before and rescue operations were underway.
Trains stuck at Murri Hill Station
At least 21 people died in cars stuck in snow on Saturday in Murree, located in Pakistan’s Pir Panjal Range. In view of this, Murree Town has been declared as disaster affected. Murri Town is a hill station located within Rawalpindi district of Punjab province of Pakistan. Crowds of tourists are reaching here to enjoy the snowfall. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that tourists arrived in such large numbers that a crisis arose.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that the Rawalpindi and Islamabad administrations, along with the police, are working to rescue the trapped people. At the same time, five platoons of the Pakistan Army along with Rangers and Frontier Corps have been called on an emergency basis. The minister said that around 1,000 cars were stuck at the hill station. He said that 21 people have died. Ahmed said the residents of Murri provided food and blankets to the stranded tourists. He said that the administration has closed all the routes to the hill station and is now allowing only vehicles planning to collect food and blankets.
JUST IN 🚨 At least 16 people freeze to death in Murree, Pakistan due to heavy snowfall after being stranded in cars pic.twitter.com/KfdS3NbWqQ
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) January 8, 2022
What did the Chief Minister of Punjab say?
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar declared a disaster in Murri and declared a state of emergency in hospitals, police stations, administration offices and rescue services. He also directed the Provincial Chief Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, the Relief Commissioner, the Director General of Rescue 1122 and the Director General of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to provide their helicopters to assist in the aid efforts, besides carrying out rescue operations. Buzdar said that the process of rescuing the tourists has been expedited and food and essential items are also being provided.
23 thousand cars were evacuated a night ago
In a statement issued by Buzdar’s office, the Chief Minister said that the top priority is to rescue the stranded tourists. He said that rest houses and other places have been opened for the people. He said that the process of rescuing the tourists has been expedited, while food and essential items are also being provided. He also expressed grief over the death of the people trapped in the snow and said that he is with the families of the victims in this grief. He said more than 23,000 cars had been evacuated from the area the night before and rescue operations were underway.
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